welcome wagon
4
5.2
- noun
- /ˈwɛlkəm ˈwæɡən/
- US
:
carro de bienvenida
- After moving in, the welcome wagon made us feel right at home with its warm greetings and helpful resources.
- send out the welcome wagon
Examples
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We were excited to see the welcome wagon bringing fresh muffins and local information for newcomers.
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I see the welcome wagon is back.
Fiction book (1991) -
Oh, our welcome wagon.
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I'm the welcome wagon!
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- Well... those boys came through here couple years ago on a barnstorming tour, and... seeing as they was the world champions of the league and all, we were tickled to have them here, and we rolled out the welcome wagon.
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The welcome wagon arrived with brochures and gifts to help us settle into the neighborhood.
Synonyms
11
2.9
A group of people who greet and help new people in a community or event
How Welcoming
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'welcome' + 'wagon' transparently suggests a vehicle or thing used for welcoming, so a learner can infer a vehicle that brings greetings. However, the specific conventionalized sense — a community service or business program that delivers information and gifts to new residents — is a cultural/idiomatic extension not fully predictable from the parts, so full understanding may require exposure.
Etymology
Welcome wagon may come from a time when local businesses used a real wagon filled with gifts and local information for new families. The wagon would stop at their door to 'welcome' them, so today welcome wagon means a visit or service that brings gifts and helpful local information to new residents.