atta Idiom, Proverb

have an attack

feel sudden pain from a disease or illness She can hardly breathe. I think she's having an asthma attack.

ride his coattails

depend on his success, use his success My dad was a great doctor, but I don't want to ride his coattails.

strings attached

obligations, restraining conditions He was able to borrow the money for the furniture with no strings attached.

two-fisted attack

strong verbal attack, much argument, rattle sabres If you protect the wolves, you can expect a two-fisted attack from the ranchers.

attaboy

well done

attach to

1．fasten or join（one thing to another）；be part of粘上；贴上；附属于
Please attach the sample to the letter．请随信附上样品。
Attach the handle to the box．把这个把手装在盒子上。
This hospital is attached to a medical college．这家医院附属于一个医学院。
2．belong to ； be attribute to属于；归于
No suspicion can be attached to the accountant．没有理由怀疑这位会计。
The main credit for the success of the test attaches to the thoroughness in their work．这次试验之所以成功，主要归功于他们工作中一丝不苟的精神。
No blame attaches to him for the accident．责任不在他身上。
3．join参加
He attached himself to the group of climbers．他加入了爬山者的行列。
He attached himself to the Party．他入党了。
4．consider to have（importance，etc．）认为有（重要性）
Do you attach much importance to what he says？你认为他说的话重要吗？
5．be appointed to another unit for special duties任命；被派遣到另一单位担任特定任务
Last week he was attached to chief manager．上星期他被任命为总经理。
6．be bound to by love or affection 深爱；依恋
She is deeply attached to her young brother．她深深地爱她的小弟。
He is foolishly attached to old customs．他愚蠢地沿习着旧习俗。

with no strings attached

Idiom(s): with no strings attached AND without any strings attached

Theme: UNCONDITIONALLY

unconditionally; with no obligations attached.
• My parents gave me a computer without any strings attached.
• I want this only if there are no strings attached.

ride on one's coattails

Idiom(s): ride on someone's coattails AND hang on someone's coattails

Theme: FOLLOWING

to make one's good fortune or success depend on another person. (Also with else, as in the examples.)
• Bill isn't very creative, so he rides on John's coattails.
• Some people just have to hang on somebody else's coattails.

without any strings attached

hang on one's coattails

No strings attached

If something has no strings attached, there are no obligations or requirements involved.

on one's coattails|coattails|on

adv. phr. Because of another's merits, success, or popularity. Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails. Many people vote straight for all the candidates in the same political party. Most people voted for President K., so Governor B. rode in on K.'s coattails.

ride on one's coattails|coattails|ride

v. phr. To succeed in a certain endeavor by attaching oneself to the greater weight of another person or corporate body. "We will never get our Ph.D. program approved on our own," said the head of the modern dance department, "but we might succeed if we stay in the Division of Fine Arts, riding on their coattails, as it were."

strings attached|attached|strings

adv. phr. With some special proviso or condition that is a handicap. John inherited a large fortune but with the string attached that he could not touch a penny of it before his 28th birthday.

attach

attach
see no strings attached.

coattail

coattail
ride on someone's coattails
or hang on someone's coattails
â
to have one's success dependent on that of someone else

coattails

coattails
see on someone's coattails.

on someone's coattails

on someone's coattails
Also, on the coattails of. Owing to another person's popularity or merits. For example, He won the cabinet post by hanging on the senator's coattails, or He was elected to office on the coattails of the governor. This expression, with its graphic image, dates from the mid-1800s, when coats with tails were in fashion.