coattail

[ koht-teyl ]

/ ˈkoʊtˌteɪl /

the back of the skirt on a man's coat or jacket.

one of the two back parts of the skirt of a coat, especially one of the tails on a tail coat.

gained by association with another, especially with a successful or celebrated person: coattail benefits.

on someone's coattails, aided by association with another person: The senator rode into office on the president's coattails.

on the coattails of, immediately after or as a result of: His decline in popularity followed on the coattails of the scandal.

Origin of coattail

First recorded in 1590–1600; coat + tail¹

Here he took something from his coat-tail pocket, and threw it on the table before Mark—it was a copy of 'Illusion.' '

The Giant's Robe |F. Anstey
The jury laughed Little Brownie out of court after pinning a twenty-five-thousand-dollar verdict to his coat-tail.

In a Little Town |Rupert Hughes
His coat-tail smelled like when you burn a rag to make the air in the room stop smelling so, all the forenoon.

Peck's Bad Boy and His Pa |George W. Peck
Slice of bread prepared with diachylon or hooked pins to stick to Mr. Bullywingle's coat-tail.

The Art of Amusing |Frank Bellew

He started right up the steps, with Jess clinging slily to his coat-tail.

The Girls of Central High |Gertrude W. Morrison

coat-tail

the long tapering tails at the back of a man's tailed coat

on someone's coat-tails thanks to the popularity or success of someone else