1
: the rear flap of a man's coat
2
coattails plural
: the skirts of a dress coat, cutaway, or frock coat
3
coattails plural
: the influence or pulling power of a popular movement or person (such as a political candidate)
congressmen riding into office on the president's coattails
Examples of coattail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Silicon Valley tech company Super Micro was supposed to be riding high: After flying under the radar for a quarter of a century, the company had ridden the coattails of the recent generative AI boom.
—
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024
He could get pulled in on his co-star’s coattails, though ultimately Original Screenplay feels the more likely place for Eisenberg to be recognized.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
Trump’s coattails may be imaginary at this point, but the insiders on the ground in Michigan know this reality: at this point in 2016—two weeks before Election Day—Hillary Clinton was up 8 points on Trump; Clinton lost by one-third of 1 point when the votes were actually counted.
—Philip Elliott / Detroit, TIME, 22 Oct. 2024
The potential coattails from the presidential winner could pull a few party-mates downballot across the finish line in some of these tough congressional contests.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2024
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Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2024
He could get pulled in on his co-star’s coattails, though ultimately Original Screenplay feels the more likely place for Eisenberg to be recognized.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
Trump’s coattails may be imaginary at this point, but the insiders on the ground in Michigan know this reality: at this point in 2016—two weeks before Election Day—Hillary Clinton was up 8 points on Trump; Clinton lost by one-third of 1 point when the votes were actually counted.
—Philip Elliott / Detroit, TIME, 22 Oct. 2024
The potential coattails from the presidential winner could pull a few party-mates downballot across the finish line in some of these tough congressional contests.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coattail
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Cite this Entry
“Coattail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coattail. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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coattail
noun
coat·tail
ˈkōt-ˌtāl 
1
: the rear flap of a man's coat
2
plural
: the influence of a popular movement or person
politicians riding into office on the president's coattails
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