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Tailgater: meaning, definitions and examples

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tailgater

 

[ ˈteɪlˌɡeɪtər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

driving behavior

A tailgater is a driver who follows another vehicle closely, often with little space between them. This behavior is considered aggressive and can lead to accidents.

Synonyms

aggressive driver, closely following vehicle, follower

Examples of usage

  • The car behind me was a tailgater, causing me to feel anxious.
  • Tailgaters often don't leave enough braking distance.
  • It's illegal to be a tailgater in many jurisdictions.

Translations

Translations of the word "tailgater" in other languages:

🇵🇹 carona

🇮🇳 टेलगेटर

🇩🇪 Heckschleicher

🇮🇩 pengemudi yang tailgating

🇺🇦 автомобіль, що їде впритул

🇵🇱 zbyt blisko jadący

🇯🇵 テールゲーター

🇫🇷 queueur

🇪🇸 conductor que tailgatea

🇹🇷 yakından takip eden sürücü

🇰🇷 테일게이터

🇸🇦 سائق يتبع عن كثب

🇨🇿 řidič, který jede těsně za

🇸🇰 šofér jazdiaci tesne

🇨🇳 紧跟的驾驶员

🇸🇮 voznik, ki vozi preblizu

🇮🇸 bíll sem ekur of nálægt

🇰🇿 жақын жүрген жүргізуші

🇬🇪 ტეილგეიტერი

🇦🇿 yaxın sürən sürücü

🇲🇽 conductor que tailgatea

Etymology

The term 'tailgater' originates from the practice of tailgating at events, particularly in the United States. This practice involves parking vehicles close to one another in a social manner, often with food and drinks set up in the open truck beds or rear areas. Over time, the term evolved to describe the act of closely following another vehicle on the road, emphasizing unsafe driving practices. The use of 'tail' comes from the rear of a vehicle, while 'gater' is derived from the informal term 'gate' which was used to describe the act of being at the rear of something. This shift in meaning highlights the negative implications of closely following another car, which can lead to increased risks of collisions.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,137, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.