1 : the rear flap of a man's coat. 2 coattails plural : the skirts of a dress coat, cutaway, or frock coat. 3 coattails plural : the influence or pulling power of a popular movement or person (such as a political candidate) congressmen riding into office on the president's coattails.

What does it mean to ride someone's coattails?

When you're on the coattails of someone else, you're enjoying success because of the association. Often, the success is not earned. ... If someone sat on your coattails, you could drag them around, giving them a ride. That's why this expression refers to situations where one person gets a free ride from another.

What does the term coattails mean?

Popular statewide candidates for governor or senator can attract support for down ballot races of their party as well. ... Riding the coattails is a metaphor that refers to one who achieves some level of success or notability primarily through association with someone else.