RIDES COATTAILS Meaning and
Definition
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"Rides coattails" is an idiomatic expression used to describe a person who benefits from or leverages the success, influence, or accomplishments of another individual or group without putting in comparable effort or contributing significantly to the achievement itself. The phrase draws its origin from the image of a person riding on the coattails, or the elongated back-flaps of a coat worn by the more successful or prominent person ahead.
In everyday usage, "rides coattails" typically implies opportunism or freeloading, as it suggests someone using or exploiting the successes or advantages of others to achieve personal gain or recognition. It connotes a lack of initiative, originality, or independent effort, relying instead on the achievements, reputation, resources, or influence of another person or group to attain their goals.
The term is often employed in various contexts, such as politics, business, sports, and personal relationships, to describe individuals who opportunistically align themselves with others in order to reap the rewards without putting forth their fair share of work or contributions. While the phrase can carry negative connotations, it is worth noting that not all instances of riding coattails may be detrimental or unethical, as some collaborations and partnerships may involve mutual benefits or interdependence. Nonetheless, "rides coattails" generally refers to a person taking undue advantage of someone else's accomplishments or position to advance their own interests, often at the expense of fairness or meritocracy.
Common Misspellings for RIDES COATTAILS
- ride coattails
- eides coattails
- dides coattails
- fides coattails
- tides coattails
- 5ides coattails
- 4ides coattails
- rudes coattails
- rjdes coattails
- rkdes coattails
- rodes coattails
- r9des coattails
- r8des coattails
- rises coattails
- rixes coattails
- rices coattails
- rifes coattails
- rires coattails
- riees coattails
- ridws coattails
Etymology of RIDES COATTAILS
The phrase "rides coattails" is believed to have its roots in 19th-century America. It originated from the practice of a person hanging onto the tails of another person's coat while being towed along. This would typically occur when someone was walking or riding a horse. In a metaphorical sense, "rides coattails" emerged as an idiom in the early 20th century, meaning to achieve success or gain advantages by relying on the merits, achievements, or reputation of someone else. Therefore, when someone "rides coattails", they are essentially benefiting from someone else's accomplishments or position.
