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 coattails mean in politics?

In American politics, it refers to the ability of a popular officeholder or candidate for office, on the strength of his or her own popularity, to increase the chances for victory of other candidates of the same political party. This candidate is said to carry others to victory on his or her coattails.