# ride the coattails

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ride-the-coattails
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To succeed by virtue of association (with).

## Examples

- He rides his brother's coattails to get popular.
- She did not do any of the actual work, but she rode her partner's coattails to get a promotion.
- The young politician rose to power quickly by riding the coattails of his famous father, rather than relying on his own merits.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.