Definition of "coattail" []

• The loose back part of a coat that hangs below the waist. (noun)
• The skirts of a formal or dress coat. (noun)
• On the coattails of As a result of the success of another: elected to office on the coattails of a popular governor. (idiom)
• On the coattails of Immediately following or as a direct result of: resigned on the coattails of the scandal. (idiom)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "She had been laughin 'at a man 'cause his coattail was a-flappin' so funny whilst he was dancin ', and dem two Jezebels thought she was makin' fun of dem."
• "Coattail or not to coattail, that is the question in NH NH Democrats have the money so far for 2010 mid-terms View all » ..."
• "At least that's the hope of Republican strategists, who for weeks have talked about a so-called coattail effect: the theory that a big win for the popular Republican governor could mean good things for the GOP in other statewide races."