along for the ride

along for the ride

Attending some event or participating in some activity without playing an active or central role in the proceedings. John's receiving an award for his work overseas tonight, and I'm just along for the ride. I'm going along for the ride to my friends' book club meeting later to see if I want to become a member.
See also: ride
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

along for the ride

Participating but not actively, as in Don't ask me how long this job will take; I'm just along for the ride. This metaphoric term often is preceded by just to emphasize the passive role of the "passenger." [Mid-1900s]
See also: ride
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

along for the ride, to go/to come/just

To take part but passively. The phrase, originating in the United States in the mid-twentieth century, implies some of the acquiescence of go along with but makes it clear that one is not in the driver’s seat.
See also: come, go, just
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • along for the ride, to go/to come/just
  • be/go along for the ride
  • go along for the ride
  • for the ride
  • expect (something) from (someone or something)
  • expect from
  • hit home with (one)
  • fly on the wall
  • a fly on the wall
  • be over the hills and far away
References in periodicals archive
This time he has his son along for the ride. Original Shaft, Richard Roundtree, co-stars.
The flight only had a mannequin called Annie along for the ride, but it brought Sir Richard Branson's dream of space tourism closer.
We have a long way to go I'm along for the ride," he continued.
"Some of this fast space dust inevitably will interact with the atmospheric system, transferring energy and moving particles around." Although that can include non-living atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, there are also microbes up there that could go along for the ride. When space dust particles collide with these elements in Earth's atmosphere, the crashes could give them "the necessary escape velocity and upward trajectory to escape Earth's gravity."
Adults can take up to two under 16-year-olds along for the ride for just 10p each and ride all day.
When your job involves swanning off to exotic locations, it's natural to want your partner along for the ride.
Her slightly more cautious friend (newcomer Deborah Lukumuena) is less immediately willing to embrace thug life, but easily swept along for the ride. Comparisons can be drawn artistically and commercially with Celine Sciamma's "Girlhood," which, like "Divines," was unveiled at Cannes' Directors' Fortnight.
In what has become his trademark style of vivid illustrations and attention to detail, Jamiol creates a stunning world for the young reader, again bringing a positive message along for the ride. "Bikers Are Animals 4: Working and Riding" is a wonderfully entertaining approach to inform children about motorcycle riding and very highly recommended for family, school, and community library children's books collections.
EASTENDERS (BBC1, 7.30pm) SO, it turns out that Denise's murdering psycho ex-boyfriend Lucas is planning to break his way out of Walford nick and escape abroad, taking son Jordan and his estranged ex along for the ride.
Caswell travels with friends and alone, with guides and without a plan, and readers will happily come along for the ride.
James May and Richard Hammond are, of course, along for the ride.
Not one of the people pictured or mentioned had a way to take a wheelchair along for the ride. So you can't get off the bike to use the restroom or check into a motel or see a waterfall?
Trumpeter Brian Koning, percussionist Tom Spears and bassist Geoff Oehling will also be along for the ride. "Profiles In Song'' will be performed 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Along for the ride is her alcoholic grandmother (Susan Sarandon).
It's a jittery start, but its insistence that criminals are people too, and some flashes of humour, might make you care enough about this gang to stick along for the ride.