coattail

American  

[koht-teyl] / ˈkoʊtˌteɪl /

noun

1. the back of the skirt on a man's coat or jacket.

2. one of the two back parts of the skirt of a coat, especially one of the tails on a tailcoat.

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adjective

1. gained by association with another, especially with a successful or celebrated person.

   coattail benefits.

idioms

1. on the coattails of, immediately after or as a result of.

   His decline in popularity followed on the coattails of the scandal.

2. on someone's coattails, aided by association with another person.

   The senator rode into office on the president's coattails.

Etymology

Origin of coattail

First recorded in 1590–1600; coat + tail ¹

Example Sentences

It might not be universally accepted; it might be boring, unimaginative, clumsily derived, a military coattail and not a panacea to Native Americans.

From Washington Post • Feb. 9, 2022

During a presidential election year, members of Congress often experience the coattail effect, which gives members of a popular presidential candidate’s party an increase in popularity and raises their odds of retaining office.

From Textbooks • Jul. 28, 2021

Then there was dear old Abu Hopkins herself, who could certainly use a coattail to cling on to these days, and was perhaps seeking to position herself as the Winnie Mandela to Robinson’s Nelson.

From The Guardian • Aug. 2, 2018

“If there was a big coattail effect, that would mean that the people who drew the districts didn't do very good jobs.”

From Slate • Sep. 26, 2012

As Booth positioned for the leap to the stage, Rathbone came at him again, grabbing his coattail.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson