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Newguest Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Brush the coat-tails

Hi

Is brushing the coat-tails an idiom? Does it mean "suck up to somebody" or something similar?

EG: I don't know that we were hanging out, I think we were just brushing the coat-tails of these people, who really didn't want to be around a bunch of kids. I think they wanted to take drugs and chase girls.

BTW: does hang out here mean that they were spending (or rather not) a lot of time with these people?

Thank a lot!
  

Top answer

" As I understand the expression, you don't "hang out" alone, although I think in the distant past it may have been used that way. I take "brushing the coat-tails" as a way of minimizing, or downplaying the real contact between the two groups. That is, any contact was coincidental, from the point of view of the older group.

— Avangi

  • " As I understand the expression, you don't "hang out" alone, although I think in the distant past it may have been used that way.
  • I take "brushing the coat-tails" as a way of minimizing, or downplaying the real contact between the two groups.
  • That is, any contact was coincidental, from the point of view of the older group.
  • - A.
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4 Answers
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Right about "to hang out [with]." As I understand the expression, you don't "hang out" alone, although I think in the distant past it may have been used that way.

I take "brushing the coat-tails" as a way of minimizing, or downplaying the real contact between the two groups. That is, any contact was coincidental, from the point of view of the older group.

- A.
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Thank you very much Avangi!
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After a night's sleep, I wondered if you might be right about the coat-tails image. We tend to associate "tails" with the formal wear of the wealthy, and the "brush" with the wealthy gentleman's manservant. The tails seem to be the remotest part, and someone brushing (removing some lint, perhaps) would scarcely be noticed.

I had originally taken "brushing" as accidental contact, as "br
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Thank you for your thorough explanations Avangi. I think your first interpretation was correct. Take care.
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