club
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a member of the clean plate club
Someone who always makes a point of eating everything they are served in a meal. Sometimes hyphenated as "clean-plate club." Come on, kids, finish the food I gave you. Don't you want to be members of the clean plate club? Our national obsession with being members of the clean-plate club, along with ever-increasing portion sizes, has led to people eating far more than they require. I've always been a picky eater, so I'm rarely a member of the clean plate club.
a member of the old boys' club
One who is a part of a network of privileged men who are members of the same organizations and institutions and who assist each other in professional advancement. When you graduate from Yale, you're not only getting a degree, but a priceless entry into the old boys' club. The only way you get ahead in this industry is if you're a member of the old boys' club. That place has always been an old boys' club, so I'm not surprised they didn't give a wildly qualified woman like Margie the job.
after hours
Beyond the established time that something typically closes or ends. I had to stay after hours in order to finish that report. My father is friends with the shop owner, so she opened it after hours just for me. We're not supposed to use the lab after hours, but there's really no way to avoid it in this case.
be in the club
To be pregnant. Yes, it's true—I'm in the club and about three months along! I wouldn't have known she was in the club if not for the very prominent baby bump. I heard that you're in the club—congratulations! When is the baby due?
See also: club
be in the pudding club
To be pregnant. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Yes, it's true—I'm in the pudding club and about three months along! A: "Is it true that Stan's daughter is in the pudding club?" B: "Yes, she's due at the end of the summer." I never expected to be in the pudding club so soon after getting married, but I'm thrilled!
clean plate club
A figurative club representing the mentality that one should always make a point of eating everything one is served in a meal. Originally a campaign during the First and Second World Wars to curb food scarcity. Sometimes hyphenated as "clean-plate club." Come on, kids, finish the food I gave you. Don't you want to be members of the clean plate club? Our national obsession with the so-called clean-plate club, along with ever-increasing portion sizes, has led to people eating far more than they require. I'm rarely a member of the clean plate club because I seldom have a very big appetite.
club together
To join or combine funds for a common purpose or pursuit. The video game system was too expensive for any one of us on our own, so we clubbed together to buy it instead. We're clubbing together with the neighbors to buy a beachside apartment that we'll share during the summer. There's no way I can afford a vacation on my own, but if some friends and I club together, we might be able to swing something.
Darby and Joan club
A social club for the elderly. It gets its name from the happily married elderly couple mentioned in Henry Woodfall's 1735 poem "The Joys of Love Never Forgot: A Song." Primarily heard in UK. My grandparents were very active with the local Darby and Joan club and made a lot of friends there. Any time we wanted to visit, we'd have to make sure there were no club activities going on! I'm sorry, your grandparents are out at their Darby and Joan club. Is there something I can help with in the meantime, honey? I'm not too worried about my parents moving away to Florida to live out their retirement. Knowing them, they'll find the Darby and Joan club and be busy with activities from day one.
first rule of (something): do not talk about (something)
cliché A phrase used to highlight the need to keep some group or piece of information a secret. Often used humorously or sarcastically. Modeled on the quote from the book Fight Club and its film adaptation, "The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club." Right, welcome to Coding Club, new recruits. The first rule of Coding Club: do not talk about Coding Club. Haha, just kidding—a little joke for the film buffs here. We made a pact to take the information with us to our graves. First rule of the pact: do not talk about the pact. First rule of poker night: do not talk about poker night, especially to any wives or girlfriends, got it?
in the (pudding) club
euphemism Pregnant. This is my sister's first time in the club, and she's pretty nervous about the whole thing. But mom and I went through it enough times that she'll have no shortage of advice. Social media has been inundated with rumors that the pop star is in the pudding club following the emergence of some revealing paparazzi pictures online.
See also: club
join the club
An expression used when two people have something unpleasant in common. Yeah, join the club—I hardly got any sleep night either.
the mile-high club
slang A humorous term for people who have had sex while traveling on an airplane. He's a rock star—of course he's in the mile-high club. I guess the thrill of possibly getting caught is why people want to join the mile-high club, but just thinking about it gives me massive anxiety.
See also: club
the old boys' club
A network of privileged men who are members of the same organizations and institutions and who assist each other in professional advancement. When you graduate from Yale, you're not only getting a degree, but a priceless entry into the old boys' club. The only way you get ahead in this industry is if you're a member of the old boys' club.
welcome to the club
An expression of glib commiseration used when one shares some unpleasant condition or situation with one or more other people. A: "I've barely gotten any sleep since my daughter was born." B: "Yeah, welcome to the club. That's just your life now that you have kids." A: "I just feel like all of my profits are eaten up by taxes each year." B: "Welcome to the club, buddy."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
after hours
after the regular closing time; after any normal or regular time, such as one's bedtime. John got a job sweeping floors in the library after hours.
Join the club!
Inf. an expression indicating that the person spoken to is in the same, or a similar, unfortunate state as the speaker. You don't have anyplace to stay? Join the club! Neither do we. Did you get fired too? Join the club!
See also: join
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
after hours
After normal working hours, after closing time; also, after legal or established opening hours. For example, I haven't time while the shop is open, but I can see you after hours, or The restaurant employees sometimes stayed for a meal after hours. This term originally referred to laws governing business hours. It also gave rise to the term after-hours club, for a drinking club that remained open later than similar establishments. [Mid-1800s]
join the club
A phrase used to express sympathy for a common experience. For example, You waited three hours for the doctor? Join the club! [c. 1940]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
join the club
orwelcome to the club
You say join the club or welcome to the club when someone has been telling you about their problems or feelings, and you want to show that you have had the same problems or feel the same way. Tory MP, Andrew Smith, confesses he doesn't entirely understand the issue. Join the club, Andrew. You feel exhausted? Welcome to the club.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
in the club (or the pudding club)
pregnant. British informal 1993 Carl MacDougall The Lights Below Must be serious if you're drinking with the old man. Did you stick her in the club?
See also: club
join (or welcome to) the club
used as a humorous exclamation to express solidarity with someone else who is experiencing problems or difficulties that the speaker has already experienced.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
be in the ˈclub
(British English, informal) be pregnantSee also: club
ˌafter ˈhours
after the period during which a shop, pub, etc. is open: Pubs are not allowed to sell drinks after hours.join the ˈclub
said as a reply to somebody who tells you their bad news when you are or have been in the same situation yourself; an expression of sympathy: ‘I failed the exam again!’ ‘Join the club! Pete, Sarah and I have as well, so don’t worry!’Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
Welcome to the club
and Join the club and WTTC sent. & comp. abb. The rest of us are in the same situation. So you’re short of cash? Welcome to the club. You’re just like us. Join the club; we’ve got jackets.
Join the club
verbMcGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.