ride-along

Noun

ride-along (plural ride-alongs)

1. A person who goes on a ridealong.
   • As a ride-along, you have up front close experience on how our police officers operate day and night out enforcing the laws of DC.2012, Curtis E Mozie, Beyond the Yellow Tape
   • The policy at the time was: When a ride-along was in the car during a pursuit, the deputy was to pull over and let the ride-along out.2013, Kevin Opheim, Along for the Ride, page 95
2. (broadly) A member of an organization who is more of a follower than a leader.
   • Being a ride-along doesn't make you immune, but it takes the bull's-eye off your back.2017, Kenneth L. Fisher, The Ten Roads to Riches
   • He had taken her for a dogsbody, a beta fish, a bridesmaid, a ride-along; he had looked right past her, as likely many people did.2023, Eleanor Catton, Birnam Wood, page 319
3. A piece of marketing material that is included in a mailing about a different product.
   • Stacks of ride-alongs that share the cost of the mailing.1994, Jay Conrad Levinson, Seth Godin, The Guerrilla Marketing Handbook, page 178
   • Since the dessert advertisement is a ride-along with your ads for other foods, your only additional cost is the printing and paper charges or Internet page cost for your dessert and/or ice-cream ads.2010, Tyler G. Hicks, 101 Great Mail-Order Businesses