"Tailgating" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Tailgating refers to the act of following another vehicle too closely, often in a reckless or aggressive manner. It is a form of driving that can lead to serious accidents and reduced driving safety.
In American football, tailgating also refers to a pre-game tradition where fans gather in parking lots near the stadium to socialize, eat, and drink before the game, often while parked in their cars with their trunks open, using the term "tailgating" as a metaphor for eating in the parking lot, next to the tailgate of the vehicle, with the social gathering taking place in the space that would normally be occupied by the tailgate of the vehicle when retracted, when it extends for convenience of having more space for all the food.
Delayed or blocked traffic on the road due to congestion, especially after accidents or roadworks, where cars can no longer move freely.