slate-club
Definition
- Noun:
- A small savings club: "slate-club" refers to a group of people, typically in a workplace or community, who contribute a fixed amount of money regularly (often weekly) into a common fund. Members take turns receiving the total sum, or the fund is used for a shared purpose, such as a Christmas party or holiday savings. The term historically derives from keeping records on a slate (a writing tablet).
Usage Examples
- (A small savings group at work.)
- (A community savings arrangement.)
Advanced Usage
"to run a slate-club": to manage or organize such a savings group.
- The foreman ran the slate-club, collecting contributions and distributing the funds. (He oversaw the club's operations.)
"to be in a slate-club": to be a member of this type of savings group.
- He was in a slate-club at the factory for years. (He participated in the savings scheme.)
Variants and Related Words
Slate (n): a piece of rock used for writing on, or a record of debts or accounts.
- The barman wiped the slate clean after the customer paid. (The record of debts was erased.)
Club (n): an association of people with a common interest or purpose.
- She joined a book club to discuss novels. (A group of readers.)
Synonyms
- Thrift club: a similar savings group.
- Christmas club: a type of slate-club specifically for saving for Christmas expenses.
Phrasal Verbs
- Pay into a slate-club: to contribute money regularly.
- They paid into the slate-club every Monday morning. (They made their weekly contributions.)
Related Idioms
Clean slate: a fresh start or a record without debts or problems.
- After paying off his debts, he started with a clean slate. (He began anew without obligations.)
Slate it down: to record something, especially a debt, for future reference.
- The shopkeeper slated down the customer's unpaid bill. (He wrote it on a slate for later collection.)