n. pl. [ fig. ] the influence of another person; the effect of association with another person; as, he was elected to office on the president's coattails. [ PJC ]
on the coattails of(a)helped by association with another person. See coattails.(b)caused by, or immediately following (an event). [ PJC ]
(n) (politics) the consequence of one popular candidate in an election drawing votes for other members of the same political party, Example:he counted on the coattails effect to win him the election