The current of air or water pulled along behind a moving object, or a situation where one can succeed easily by following another's efforts.
Compound of 'slip' (to slide) and 'stream' (current of water or air). Emerged in early aviation terminology in the 20th century as pilots discovered the effects of air currents behind aircraft.
Slipstream is a genuinely physical phenomenon that cyclists and drivers use to save energy—you literally use less effort because the air's already moving. It's why geese fly in V-formations and why race cars follow each other so closely. The word captures actual physics, not just metaphor.
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