World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesCoattails
/ˈkoʊt.teɪlz/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
The success or status achieved by association with a more successful or popular person.
"The lesser-known candidate tried to ride on the incumbent president's coattails to secure a victory." - 2
The trailing lower part of a coat.
"He brushed the dust off the coattails of his formal tuxedo before entering the ballroom."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the lower back flaps of a formal men's coat, the term evolved in 19th-century American political vernacular. The idiomatic phrase 'riding on someone's coattails' emerged to describe gaining success or notoriety through association with a more prominent person.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Coattails"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Coattails" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
profiter de la notoriété
Transliteration: profi-te de la notori-e-te
"Il a réussi en profitant de la notoriété de son mentor."
im Windschatten
Transliteration: im Windschatten
"Er ist im Windschatten seines Kollegen aufgestiegen."
sfruttare il successo altrui
Transliteration: sfruttare il successo altrui
"Ha cercato di sfruttare il successo altrui per vincere le elezioni."
colgarse de la fama
Transliteration: colgarse de la fama
"Prefiere colgarse de la fama de otros en lugar de trabajar duro."
pegar carona no sucesso
Transliteration: pegar carona no sucesso
"Ele tentou pegar carona no sucesso da empresa do irmão."
दूसरों के सहारे आगे बढ़ना
Transliteration: dusron ke sahare aage badhna
Script: हिंदी देवनागरी
"वह हमेशा दूसरों के सहारे आगे बढ़ना चाहता है।"
沾光
Transliteration: zhān guāng
Script: 中文汉字
"他靠着他父亲的名气沾光不少。"
덕을 보다
Transliteration: deogeul boda
Script: 한국어 한글
"그는 선배의 덕을 보아 쉽게 성공했다."
便乗する
Transliteration: binjō suru
Script: 日本語
"彼は上司の人気に便乗して出世した。"
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