coattail

hang on (one's) coattails

To benefit from one's success, especially in a sponging or freeloading manner; to use one's success as a means to achieve your own. Everyone knows you've been hanging on the governor's coattails for the last two years, but once her term ends you'll be on your own. Jonathan hung on the famous professor's coattails to get some recognition for his own work from several esteemed academic journals.
See also: coattail, hang, on

on (one's) coattails

Benefiting from someone else's success; using someone else's success as a means to achieve one's own. Everyone knows you've been on the governor's coattails these last two years, but once her term ends, you'll be on your own. A: "I can't believe Jonathan got his paper published in that prestigious journal." B: "Oh, it's only because he's on his professor's coattails."
See also: coattail, on

on the coattails of (someone)

Benefiting from someone else's success; using someone else's success as a means to achieve one's own. Everyone knows you've been on the coattails of the governor these last two years, but once her term ends, you'll be on your own. A: "I can't believe Jonathan got his paper published in that prestigious journal." B: "Oh, it's only because he's riding on the coattails of his professor."
See also: coattail, of, on

pull (one's) coattails

To emphasize something; to draw one's attention to something. Would you quit pulling my coattails? Yes, I see what's happening here, thank you very much.
See also: coattail, pull

ride (on) the coattails of (someone)

To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one's own. Everyone knows you've been riding on the coattails of the governor these last two years, but once her term ends, you'll be on your own! Jonathan rode the coattails of his professor to get some recognition for his own work in several esteemed academic journals.
See also: coattail, of, ride

ride (one's) coattails

To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one's own. Everyone knows you've been riding the governor's coattails for the last two years, but once her term ends you'll be on your own. Jonathan rode the famous professor's coattails to get some recognition for his own work from several esteemed academic journals.
See also: coattail, ride

ride on (one's) coattails

To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one's own. Everyone knows you've been riding on the governor's coattails for the last two years, but once her term ends you'll be on your own. Jonathan rode on the famous professor's coattails to get some recognition for his own work from several esteemed academic journals.
See also: coattail, on, ride
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

ride on someone's coattails

 and hang on someone's coattails
Fig. to make one's good fortune or success on the strength of someone else's. (Also with else, as in the examples.) Bill isn't very creative, so he rides on John's coattails. Some people just have to hang on somebody else's coattails.
See also: coattail, on, ride
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

on someone's coattails

Also, on the coattails of. Owing to another person's popularity or merits. For example, He won the cabinet post by hanging on the senator's coattails, or He was elected to office on the coattails of the governor. This expression, with its graphic image, dates from the mid-1800s, when coats with tails were in fashion.
See also: coattail, on
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

on the coattails of

1. As a result of the success of another: elected to office on the coattails of a popular governor.
2. Immediately following or as a direct result of: resigned on the coattails of the scandal.
See also: coattail, of, on
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • at doorstep
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at will
  • at (one's) expense
  • at expense
  • at somebody's expense
  • at someone's expense
  • be remembered as (something)
  • be remembered as/for something
  • be in (one's) good graces
References in periodicals archive
Trump's shadow is the biggest coattail of them all.
Analysis: The most important 2018 candidate isn't on the ballot
In other words, to what extent did Tsai's candidacy encourage coattail voting?
COATTAILS AND MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEMS: EVIDENCE FROM TAIWAN'S 2016 ELECTION
The third reason for the strength of the perverse lightning rod effect is that in the mid-twentieth century, some states moved their governors' races to off-years in part to minimize the President's coattail effect and thus the effects of the presidential election cycle on state politics.
The President: lightning rod or king?
The essence of the coattail proposition is familiar: A party's presidential, gubernatorial, and senatorial candidates influence the prospects of its congressional and state legislative candidates on the same ballot.
Legislative Professionalism and Incumbent Reelection: The Development of Institutional Boundaries
(2) PRCNT = g(Economic Condition, Past Candidate, Coattail),
A two-stage model of the effect of economic conditions on election outcomes
You'd think the Brits are jealous of our popularity & want to ride on Ireland's coattails
Great to see a, er, Brit win in land of Open glory
Plano, TX, May 13, 2019 --(PR.com)-- On the coattails of another inspiring regional company event, RevitalU International announced the opening of registration for the fall convention to be held in Orlando, Florida on the weekend of Sept 6-8, 2019.
RevitalU #PowerofU Event in September 2019 Announced
To Get Sample Copy of this Report, visit @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=841 Demand for egg yolk lecithin in the pharmaceutical industry has shown a significant rise on the coattails of its ability in preventing and treating diseases apropos of liver, and neurological disorders.
Egg Yolk Lecithin Market Inclinations Highlighting Enhanced Revenue in the Coming Years
NZD-USD printed a three-month low at 0.6667 before recouping back above 0.6700, rising on the coattails of gains in the Aussie dollar following better than expected data out of China, which provided fresh fuel to risk-on sentiment in global markets.
FX Update: The dollar majors have continued without much directional bias
Braces from Betts and Gourley kept Sporting on the leaders' coattails as they triumphed 5-1 at home to lowly Cramlington Town, Pickford also netting.
Rothbury pull off a Quay victory; NORTHERN ALLIANCE DIV TWO
And Mattel is not beyond riding those K-pop coattails. Shares of Mattel Inc.
One more sign K-Pop is here to stay, a contract with Mattel
The win keeps Liverpool on the coattails of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with just two points between the sides at the summit.
'Merseyside is Red' - Liverpool fans react to the incredible late victory against Everton; Liverpool fans react as Divock Origi's last-gasp winner gives them the points in the 232nd Merseyside derby
The most recent Goucher poll suggests that general election coattails for the incumbent governor are likely to be spotty at best.
Maryland Election Day 2018: What to watch
"I will be dragging on the coattails of it, but what will be exciting is when these moments aren't so celebrated because they are so infrequent and we are realising that the points of view of storytelling don't always have to come from someone who looks the same.
Jodie hails 'different points of view'
Game changer mini in "High Line Shine," by Kelly Wynne, $315; CoatTails, 111 W.
stadium style