Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to jump on the bandwagon

to jump on the bandwagon

16 5.0
To start doing something popular because many others do it, often to get an advantage
  • idiom
  • /dʒʌmp ɑn ðə ˈbændˌwæɡən/
  • Informal
: subirse al carro
  • After seeing the popularity of the new fitness trend, she decided to jump on the bandwagon and sign up for classes.
  • also jump on the bandwagon

So a lot of people jumped on the cell therapy bandwagon.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • El Salvador jumped on the neoliberal bandwagon in the late 1980s.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Everyone's jumping on the bandwagon.

    Valentino (1977)

  • Every studio is jumping on the bandwagon.

    Singin' in the Rain (1952)

  • Even American companies are jumping on the bandwagon.

    Academic text (2004)

  • It's no surprise to learn that active managers are jumping on the beta bandwagon.

    Blog text (13)

  • Even academic commentary jumped on the bandwagon.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Other countries are also jumping on the biofuel bandwagon.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Just because a news channel jumped on the bandwagon doesn't mean they own it.

    Blog text (2)

  • While social scientists initially dominated this area of study, humanists quickly jumped on the bandwagon.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Any savvy author will recognize this fact and jump on the Amazon ebook bandwagon quickly.

    Blog text (5)

Synonyms

to ride the wave
vsto jump on the bandwagon
12 4.2

To use a current trend or chance while it lasts to get advantage

emphasizes joining current popular activities mainly to gain an advantage
to follow the crowd
vsto jump on the bandwagon
  • Informal
5 3.2

To do what most people do without using your own ideas

focuses on joining popular actions for personal gain rather than unthinking mimicry
to ride on someone's coattail
vsto jump on the bandwagon
  • Informal
2 6.9

Use another person's success to get benefits without much effort

is about joining group popularity to gain advantage rather than relying on one person's influence
to ride the wave of popularity
vsto jump on the bandwagon
1 5.4

To gain from a sudden rise in public interest

is about joining popular actions to gain advantage rather than brief attention
hitch one's wagon to
vsto jump on the bandwagon
  • Informal
1 7.4

To join a successful person or group to gain advantage

is about joining popular actions broadly for advantage rather than targeting leaders

Antonyms

to stay out of it
66 3.8

To avoid getting involved in an argument or fight

How Conformist

to jump on the bandwagon
  • Informal
16 5.0
to follow the crowd
  • Informal
5 3.2
to join in
418 1.1
to blaze a trail
  • Informal
6 5.3

Surface Forms

jump on the bandwagon infinitive
jumped on the bandwagon past
jumped on the bandwagon past participle
jumping on the bandwagon present participle
jumps on the bandwagon third person singular

Morphology

jump + on + the + bandwagon

Given the provided headword meanings — 'jump' (enter eagerly), 'on' (join/participate) and 'bandwagon' (a fashionable cause) — the overall meaning 'to join a popular trend' is directly derivable by combining the constituents. The construction follows a common 'get on / jump on' pattern and the metaphor is transparent enough that a B1 learner who knows the component words can infer the idiomatic sense.

Etymology

Jump on the bandwagon comes from old parades and shows where a loud band played on a decorated wagon, and people would actually jump on the bandwagon to join the crowd. That's why today it means 'to join others in something that is popular'.