tailgater
3
5.6
- noun
- /ˈteɪlˌɡeɪtər/
- One way to deal with it is to resist being bullied by tailgaters who want you to speed up.
Examples
-
If you see a tailgater, report him.
Fiction book (2001) -
I couldn't slow down because of the tailgater behind me (he couldn't see what was in front of me), and I figured I would have about two or three of these either stuck in my grill or plastered to the windshield.
Blog text (33) -
When driving on the highway, be sure not to become a tailgater by following the car ahead too closely.
-
The traffic was so heavy that a tailgater nearly caused an accident by not maintaining a safe distance.
-
Many drivers reported the tailgater who was closely following them on the busy road.
How Close
3
5.6
3
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
tailgater = tailgate (semi-transparent) = tail + gate + er
The suffix '-er' is a regular agentive forming 'one who tailgates', but the verbal base 'tailgate' (to follow closely) is a figurative extension from the compound elements, so learners may not derive the driving sense from 'tail' + 'gate' alone.
Etymology
Tailgater comes from tailgate, the back part of a vehicle, where tail means 'back' and gate means 'door'. So a tailgater is someone who drives so close they are almost touching the car in front, which is why it now means a driver who follows too closely.