ride-along

plural ride-alongs

1. alternativeAlternative form of ridealong.

   There was only one person on a ride-along that week!

   2013, Kevin Opheim, Along for the Ride, page 95

   3 more examples

   A ride-along serves several purposes. First, some candidates want to become fire fighters because of the glorified lifestyles portrayed by Hollywood heroes, and a ride-along will allow a potential member to experience the reality of the fire department.

   2011, Jack W. Snook, Richard B. Gasaway, Tim L. Holman, A Leadership Guide for Volunteer Fire Departments, page 26

   One of the benefits of a ride-along for a family member is to give them an opportunity to witness a cop's job firsthand, gaining insight into what we do as law enforcement officers.

   2017, Darren Burch, Twisted but True

   She took ride-alongs with sales reps so she could see the skills they used and those they needed.

   2022, Elaine Biech, ATD's Handbook for Training and Talent Development

2. 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

   2 more examples

   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

   There is a common belief among patrol officers that there is a “ride-along curse,” suggesting that when their shift involves taking a ride-along, it usually means the patrol shift will be mindnumbingly boring; a series of barking dog complaints, burglary reports, and the like.

   2017, Darren Burch, Twisted but True

3. broadlyA 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

   1 more example

   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

4. businessA 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

   2 more examples

   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

   In the corporate world, a company puts a ride-along into a mailer that another company is doing.

   2021, Nelson Searcy, Jennifer Dykes Henson, Maximize: How to Develop Extravagant Givers in Your Church