coattailEtymologyFrom coat + tail.nounThe flap at the back of a coat that hangs down, sometimes below the waist.“At twilight in the summer[…]the mice come out. They[…]eat the luncheon crumbs. Mr. Checkly, for instance, always brought his dinner in a paper parcel in his coat-tail pocket, and ate it when so disposed, sprinkling crumbs lavishly[…]on the floor.”Success of a figure, organization or movement that transfers to those who associate with it.“to ride the coattails”verbTo ride the coattails of.“It wasn't like I just coattailed the auditor's work. Based on the names on the time cards, I was able to conduct interviews with the employees whose labor was mischarged, and they told me which contracts they had actually worked on.”