Jump on the bandwagon

Meaning

The idiom "jump on the bandwagon" means to join something or take part in an activity that is already popular or successful. It refers to someone who follows a trend, movement or idea without fully understanding it, but rather because it seems like everyone else is doing it.

Usage

• After seeing how successful her friend's new business was, Sarah decided to jump on the bandwagon and start her own.
• The rising popularity of plant-based diets has led many people to jump on the bandwagon and try going vegan.
• When a popular song or artist comes out, it's not uncommon for fans to jump on the bandwagon and buy their merchandise without really knowing much about them.
• With so much hype surrounding the new product, many people jumped on the bandwagon and bought it before even trying it out.
• The political climate has been volatile lately, with many people jumping on the bandwagon of protest movements without fully understanding their cause.

Roots and History

The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it is believed to have started in the United States during the presidential election of 1848. The phrase was used by supporters of Martin Van Buren, who had been a popular vice president under Andrew Jackson. They wanted to show their support for him by "jumping on the bandwagon" and running for president themselves. Over time, the idiom has evolved to refer to anyone who joins a trend or movement without fully understanding it. It has become a common saying in contemporary language, especially in the context of politics, where people often jump on the bandwagon of popular movements without fully understanding their cause.

Synonyms in English

• Hop on the wagon
• Join the crowd
• Go along with the flow
• Get on board
• Jump in the carpool

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Subir al tren"
  • This idiom means to catch up with something, often a trend or movement, that has already become popular.
• French: "Baisser la barre"
  • This idiom means to lower the bar (metaphorically) and join in on something that everyone else is doing.
• German: "Mitmachen"
  • This idiom means to participate or cooperate, often without fully understanding what one is joining.
• Italian: "Salire sulla bandiera"
  • This idiom means to jump on a flag (metaphorically) and show support for something that everyone else is supporting.
• Dutch: "Van de band hoppen"
  • This idiom means to join a trend or movement, often without fully understanding it.

Similar Idioms

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• where there’s a will, there’s a way

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