ride shotgun

Etymology

Probably arose in early-20th-century Western fiction and movies where an employee or friend armed with a rifle or shotgun would ride next to a stagecoach driver for protection from bandits or Indians.

Verb

ride shotgun (third-person singular simple present rides shotgun, present participle riding shotgun, simple past rode shotgun, past participle ridden shotgun)

1. (idiomatic, slang) To ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, next to the driver.

   When both kids want to ride shotgun with Mom, they'll just have to take turns.

2. (idiomatic, slang, figuratively) To accompany someone in order to assist and protect.

   He attended the meeting to ride shotgun for the sales team, in case anyone had a technical question.