Definition of On the coattails

1. Adverb. Immediately following or undeservedly benefiting from. "He was elected on his predecessor's coattails"

Exact synonyms: One One's Coattails

Lexicographical Neighbors of On The Coattails

on the back of
on the ball
on the bench
on the bias
on the blink
on the books
on the bounce
on the brain
on the brink
on the bubble
on the cards
on the carpet
on the cheap
on the clock
on the coattails (current term)
on the come
on the contrary
on the cuff
on the cutting room floor
on the defensive
on the dot
on the double
on the down-low
on the edge of one's seat
on the face of
on the face of it
on the far side
on the fence
on the fence(p)

Literary usage of On the coattails

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1883)
"On basic research, the present attitude is that it has to ride on the coattails of what science can do for society. It's going to be more and more difficult ..."

2. In Defense of the Corporation by Robert Hessen (1979)
"... a free ride on the coattails of the giants. Hertz and Avis, for example, spent millions to popularize the idea of renting a car and thus created a new ..."

3. America, a Minority Viewpoint by Walter Edward Williams (1982)
"Eliminating this welfare is the true test of moral character and strength of conservatives who came to power on the coattails of President Reagan. ..."

4. From Behemoth to Microship by Steven K. Roberts (2000)
"I wear titanium-framed polycarbonate progressive bifocals; my beard is streaked with gray; I watch employed friends retire on the coattails of the stock ..."

5. Strategies That Work: Teaching Comprehension for Understanding and Engagement by Stephanie Harvey, Anne Goudvis (2007)
"But it's really just the opposite: Far from thinking coming after knowledge, knowledge comes on the coattails of thinking. As we think about and with the ..."

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