Definition

Adverb: - Immediately following or undeservedly benefiting from: The phrase describes a situation where someone gains an advantage, success, or position not through their own merit, but by closely associating with or following directly after another person or event, especially one that is successful or significant.

Usage

This adverbial phrase is used to describe the means or circumstances by which an advantage is gained. It is almost always used with the prepositions "on" or "upon" (e.g., on the coattails of, on his coattails). It implies that the benefit is unearned or derivative.

Examples

• Adverb:
  • The new policy was introduced on the coattails of the popular economic reforms. (The policy was introduced immediately after and hoping to benefit from the popularity of the earlier reforms.)
  • Many lesser-known candidates hope to ride into office on the coattails of a popular presidential nominee. (They hope to win because they are associated with the popular nominee.)
  • He got the promotion largely on his manager's coattails. (He was promoted because of his connection to his successful manager, not solely due to his own work.)

Advanced Usage

• "to ride on someone's coattails": This is a common verb phrase using the same core metaphor. It means to use someone else's success or popularity as a means to achieve one's own advancement.
  • The young senator was accused of merely riding on the governor's coattails to win her election.

Variants and Related Words

• Coattail effect (noun): In politics, the phenomenon where a popular candidate at the top of a ticket helps other candidates from the same party get elected to lower offices.
  • The president's landslide victory created a strong coattail effect for congressional candidates.

Synonyms

• In the wake of: Following closely after, often benefiting from the momentum.
• Piggybacking on: Using the efforts or success of another as a base for one's own advancement.
• Basking in reflected glory: Enjoying prestige or success that comes from association with someone else's achievements.

Related Idioms

• To ride someone's coat-tails: This is the idiomatic expression from which the adverbial phrase is derived. It carries the same meaning of achieving success through association.
  • He's not a great innovator himself; he's just been riding his partner's coat-tails for years.

Adverb

1. immediately following or undeservedly benefiting from
   • the CEO resigned on the coattails of the scandal
   • he was elected on his predecessor's coattails