dʒʌmp ɒn ðə ˈbændwæɡən
General
informal
intermediate
- Literally:
- To leap onto a wagon carrying a band
What does "jump on the bandwagon" mean?
- To join a popular trend or activity
- To support something that has become fashionable
Examples
- Many investors jumped on the cryptocurrency bandwagon.
- She's always jumping on the latest fitness bandwagon.
- Companies are jumping on the sustainability bandwagon.
Origin
From 19th-century American politics when candidates would ride on bandwagons in parades. Supporters would literally jump on to show allegiance.
How to use it
Often implies following without independent thought. Can be slightly negative.
Similar expressions
follow the trend
join the crowd
go with the flow
Opposites
go against the grain
stand apart
resist trends
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "jump on the bandwagon" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.