Coattail

Definitions

1. The flap at the back of a coat that hangs down, sometimes below the waist.
2. Success of a figure, organization or movement that transfers to those who associate with it.
   figuratively, plural-normally

Equivalents

Examples

“At twilight in the summer[…]the mice come⟳ out. They[…]eat⟳ the luncheon crumbs. Mr. Checkly, for instance, always brought his dinner in a paper parcel in his coat-tail pocket, and ate it when so disposed, sprinkling crumbs lavishly[…]on the floor.”

“to ride⟳ the coattails”

“Mr Obama’s coat-tails may help⟳ lift⟳ Wall-Street-basher Elizabeth Warren past pickup-driving Everyman and one-time nude pin-up Scott Brown in Massachusetts[…].”

“And Harford grabs the coattails of the trend, giving us 10 rules for thinking differently about numbers in the news, ranging from “check your feelings”, to “ponder your personal experience⟳”, to “keep⟳ an open⟳ mind⟳”.”

CEFR level