flies on a horse's tail traveling far; ride on sb's coattails
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to attach oneself to a famous person in order to become famous; to ride on someone's coattails; to achieve fame by associating with the eminent
literaryOriginally from 'History of the Book of Han' (汉书), describing how flies and mosquitoes can travel far by clinging to a horse's tail. Used self-deprecatingly to express humility about one's own achievements being due to association with a great master, or sometimes pejoratively to describe opportunistic behavior.
Dì弟
zǐ子
fù附
jì骥
，
dé得
yǐ以
míng名
yáng扬
tiān天
xià下
。
The disciple rode on the master's coattails, gaining fame throughout the world.
Tā他
bù不
guò过
shì是
fù附
jì骥
wěi尾
ér而
zhì致
qiān千
lǐ里
，
ruò若
wú无
dà大
shī师
tí提
xié携
，
yān焉
yǒu有
jīn今
rì日
？
He merely traveled far by clinging to the horse's tail; without the master's support, how could he be where he is today?
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Bù不
gǎn敢
fù附
jì骥
，
kǒng恐
wū污
míng名
gōng公
zhī之
jì骥
wěi尾
。
I dare not ride on your coattails, fearing to sully the tail of your fine steed, sir.