on\ one's\ coattails

on\ one's\ coattails
adv. phr.
Because of another's merits, success, or popularity.

Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails.

Many people vote straight for all the candidates in the same political party. Most people voted for President K., so Governor B. rode in on K.'s coattails.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • one one's coattails — adverb immediately following or undeservedly benefiting from the CEO resigned on the coattails of the scandal he was elected on his predecessor s coattails • Syn: ↑on the coattails …   Useful english dictionary

  • on one's coattails — {adv. phr.} Because of another s merits, success, or popularity. * /Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails./ * /Many people vote straight for all the candidates in the same political… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on one's coattails — {adv. phr.} Because of another s merits, success, or popularity. * /Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails./ * /Many people vote straight for all the candidates in the same political… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on one's coattails — phrasal : in a state of dependence on another for assistance a lazy man still riding on his father s coattails : with the help of another; especially : with the benefit of another s political prestige congressmen riding into office on the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • trail one's coattails — phrasal see trail one s coat …   Useful english dictionary

  • ride on one's coattails — {v. phr.} To succeed in a certain endeavor by attaching oneself to the greater weight of another person or corporate body. * / We will never get our Ph.D. program approved on our own, said the head of the modern dance department, but we might… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • ride on one's coattails — {v. phr.} To succeed in a certain endeavor by attaching oneself to the greater weight of another person or corporate body. * / We will never get our Ph.D. program approved on our own, said the head of the modern dance department, but we might… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • ride\ on\ one's\ coattails — v. phr. To succeed in a certain endeavor by attaching oneself to the greater weight of another person or corporate body. We will never get our Ph.D. program approved on our own, said the head of the modern dance department, but we might succeed… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • coattails — also coat tail, c.1600, from COAT (Cf. coat) + TAIL (Cf. tail). In 17c., to do something on one s own coattail meant at one s own expense. Meaning power of one person, especially in politics, is from 1848 (in a Congressional speech by Abraham… …   Etymology dictionary

  • coattails effect — noun (politics) the consequence of one popular candidate in an election drawing votes for other members of the same political party he counted on the coattails effect to win him the election • Topics: ↑politics, ↑political science, ↑government •… …   Useful english dictionary

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