coat tails

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   The long back flaps of a formal tailcoat that hang below the waist.

   Grammar: Plural noun: the coat tails flapped behind him.

   Patterns

   • the coat tails of something

   The conductor's coat tails swung as he turned to the orchestra.

   He sat carefully so as not to crush his coat tails.

   The waiter brushed some dust from his coat tails.

2. 2nounfixed phrasedisapproving

   Used in the idiom on someone's coat tails: gaining success or advantage only through the achievement or popularity of another person.

   Grammar: Used in fixed phrases such as ride on someone's coat tails.

   Patterns

   • ride on someone's coat tails

   He won the seat by riding on the president's coat tails.

   The new band rode on the coat tails of a famous act.

   She built her career on her mentor's coat tails.

Common combinations

ride on someone's coat tails

The junior candidates rode on the governor's coat tails.

on the coat tails of

The film sold well on the coat tails of the book.

grab someone's coat tails

He tried to grab his boss's coat tails.

cling to coat tails

Some players cling to the coat tails of the star.

Synonyms and how they differ

wake

Wake, as in in the wake of, describes what follows an event rather than depending on a person.

shadow

Shadow suggests being overshadowed by someone, while coat tails suggests profiting from them.

leverage

Leverage means using an advantage deliberately, while coat tails implies a free ride.

Word family

coat noun

an outer garment with sleeves

tailcoat noun

a formal coat with long back flaps

coattails noun

the usual one-word spelling

Commonly confused: coat tails or coat tales?

Practice

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