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

Beginning in 2006, he released three albums with a side project, the cheekily named Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.

From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2022

No Coattail Effect in Gold’s Surge While doubts about the economies of the United States and Europe have made gold more expensive, they have also hurt stock prices — including those of some mining companies.

From New York Times • Apr. 9, 2011

Coattail Coasters Ann Sheridan announced she had chosen George Brent as the man with whom she would like best to be caught in a blackout.

From Time Magazine Archive