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join the club

Idioms  

  1. A phrase used to express sympathy for a common experience. For example, You waited three hours for the doctor? Join the club! [c. 1940]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is now proposing to join the club.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Zubimendi and Arteta hit it off after speaking on the phone and the Spain international says that the Arsenal manager's "obsession" with "details" is one of the reasons why he wanted to join the club.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says defender Riccardo Calafiori was "ready to pack his bags" and join the club as soon as the pair spoke.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2024

The women’s soccer club on Wednesday announced an agreement with Bay and Iger, allowing them to join the club as controlling owners.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2024

Because it’s hard to excel at something when you can’t even join the club.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.