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In the club

What's the meaning of the phrase 'In the club'?

Euphemism, meaning pregnant.

What's the origin of the phrase 'In the club'?

More fully, this expression is ‘in the pudding club‘. It is a 20th century British expression. An early example of it in print is in James Curtis’s novel, The Gilt Kid, 1936:

You were put in the pudden club by the squire’s son.

It’s possible that Curtis coined the phrase but, more probably, it emerged as street slang sometime before 1936.

See also, the related phrase, up the duff.

The history of “In the club” in printed materials

Trend of in the club in printed material over time

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
In the club

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