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

“I’m riding the coattail of the Yellowstone effect and the cowboy being cool again,” said Brown, who expects his digital revenue to crack $100,000 this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

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

And now he holding on to Trump's coattail like Peter Pettigrew to Lord Voldemort.

From Washington Post • Feb. 7, 2017

Then she caught the minister by the sleeve of his jacket and his coattail, then she rocked him from side to side.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou