Coattail: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The term 'coattail' comes from the clothing of the 19th-century, referring to the tails on formal coats.
• Originally, people would use the phrase 'to ride on someone’s coattails' to mean gaining benefits from another’s achievements.

Pop Culture

• In politics, candidates often ride the coattails of more popular leaders, gaining electoral support due to association.
• The phrase has been used in movies and TV shows to describe characters who leech off the fame of others.

Psychology

• The phenomenon reflects social behaviors where individuals seek to associate with successful people to enhance their status.
• This can create dependency relationships, where one party may feel inadequate without the success of another.

Business

• In entrepreneurship, start-ups might thrive by aligning with established brands, capitalizing on their reputation.
• Marketing strategies often leverage coattailing effects to launch products, using influencers who are already popular.

Literature

• Authors have critiqued the concept of coattailing in stories, showing characters who rely on the successes of others instead of their own talents.
• In many classic narratives, the theme of dependency on another’s achievements serves as a cautionary tale about ambition and integrity.