join the club
phrase
variants
or less commonly welcome to the club
informal
—said to indicate that the problems or feelings someone is having are problems or feelings that the speaker has had
If you don't understand the rules, join the club: no one else does either!
—often used to suggest that a person's problems or feelings are not unusual and do not deserve much sympathySo you think you deserve to be paid more money for your work? Well, join the club.
Cite this Entry
“Join the club.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/join%20the%20club. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
