join (redirected from joins forces)

be joined at the hip

if you say that two people are joined at the hip, you mean that they are very friendly with each other and spend more time together than is usual. I can go to London without Mike. We're not joined at the hip, you know.

See also: hip

enter/join the fray

to become involved in an argument or a fight. Members of the royal family rarely enter the political fray.

See also: enter, fray

If you can't beat 'em, (join 'em)! (informal)

something that you say when you decide to do something bad because other people are getting an advantage from doing it and you cannot stop them.. If everyone else is making a bit of money out of it I will too. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, is what I say.

See also: beat, can't

Join the club! (British, American & Australian, American & Australian)

something that you say to someone who has just told you about an experience or problem that they have had in order to show that you have had the same experience or problem too. 'I can't stop eating chocolate.' 'Join the club!' 'We can't afford a vacation this year.' 'Welcome to the club!'

See also: club

join the ranks of something

to become part of a large group. Thousands of young people join the ranks of the unemployed each summer when they leave school.

See also: rank

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join hands (with someone)

to unite with other people or groups. Many people are ready to join hands to improve health care around the world.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of join hands (= to hold the hand of the person next to you, connecting all of the people in a group)

See also: hand

join in

to take part with others in an activity. We play touch football on Saturdays if the weather is good, so bring sneakers with you and join in.

join the ranks of something

to become part of a larger group or organization. Their country will join the ranks of the most developed nations of the world in four or five years.

See also: rank

join up

to become a member of the military. Levy joined up in World War II, received his citizenship and ended up a corporal in the combat engineers.

joined at the hip

1. very closely connected. The two companies have been joined at the hip since their founders went camping together a hundred years ago.

2. together. The new law would keep unhappy couples joined at the hip for the sake of their children.

Etymology: based on the idea that some twins (= two babies born by the same mother at the same time) are born with some part of their bodies joined together

See also: hip