ride the coattails
Benefit from another
To ride the coattails of someone is to benefit from their success or popularity without contributing much yourself.
The image is of clinging to the trailing back portion of another person's coat as they advance: She rode the coattails of her famous father into Hollywood.
Often carries a note of criticism—the person riding hasn't earned their position independently.
- piggybackCarried on another's back
- friends in high placesInfluential contacts with power
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
- endorsementFormal expression of support
leverage · leeching · exploitation · freeloading · nepotism · social climbing · name dropping · parasitism · hanger-on · mooching · bandwagon · gravy train · easy street · meal ticket · favoritism · networking · benefit · sponging
ride the coattailsself-made
Successful through own efforts
pull oneself up by one's bootstraps · earn one's stripes · stand on one's own two feet · bootstrap · work one's way up
ride the coattailspave the way
Prepare conditions for advancement
mentor · trailblaze · sponsor
ride, rides, ridden, riding, riders, coat, coats, coated, coating