welcome mat

welcome mat

1. Literally, a small mat laid out in front of the door to one's house on which to wipe the dirt from one's shoes, typically with "Welcome" or some other greeting printed on it. After living in an apartment for so long, the first thing I wanted to buy when I moved into a proper house was a welcome mat. You don't need to take your shoes off, just give them a good wipe on the welcome mat.
2. A friendly, welcoming attitude or gesture. Sometimes used ironically or sarcastically. The town is rolling out the welcome mat to competitors from all over the world for its annual triathlon this weekend. You're putting out the welcome mat for cyber criminals if you post your personal details online.
See also: mat, welcome
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

welcome mat

A friendly welcome, as in They put out the welcome mat for all new members. This expression alludes to a doormat with the word "Welcome" printed on it. [Mid-1900]
See also: mat, welcome
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • at (one's) door
  • at door
  • at one's door
  • at doorstep
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • (from) top to toe
  • at somebody's expense
  • at someone's expense
  • at (one's) expense
  • at expense
References in periodicals archive
Carpet One Floor & Home has been supporting breast cancer research and awareness since 2004, and its welcome mat program has raised more than $750,000 in the U.S.
Twenty-five percent of sales from the welcome mats will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in the United States and to Canadian Cancer Society breast cancer research and support programs in Canada.
Nanotechnologists have created a remark ably effective liquid-repelling surface that can also become, at the flick of a switch, a welcome mat for liquids.
Still, Jordan's welcome mat is out: the government promises that its borders will remain open, and humanitarian aid workers are prepared to welcome those who may later arrive--Muslims and Christians alike--in hopes of escaping the destruction of this war.
WHY is a country pledged to the war on terrorism laying out the welcome mat for Hassan Butt today?
When a fleet of yellow school buses pulled up at a distant border of the park, we knew instinctively that Nixon was rolling up the welcome mat and that our invitation to the seat of government had worn out.
by Bob Ditter, licensed clinical social worker, excerpted from "Creating a Welcome Mat for Campers" from the July/August 1996 issue of Camping Magazine
Various polls impressed on both national and civic politicians that many ordinary voters did not support the welcome mat they had spread out for the homosexual activists (See C.I.
Simple start-up instructions including customer support contact details are included on a 'welcome mat'.
MIKE MOORE OPENED the preliminary program of the World Trade Organization with more than a polite welcome mat. He was defensive, pugnacious and at times courageous in speaking to WTO's critics.
With upstarts such as Juniper Networks, Sycamore Networks, Copper Mountain Networks and Redback Networks launching explosive IPOs, the need to preempt the lure of an IPO - and lay out the welcome mat to other prime privately held companies - contributed to the sizeable premiums paid in these and other deals.
Fire treats them as a welcome mat leading directly to our homes.
Asimakopoulos Cafe (Greek; breakfast, lunch, dinner) at 288 Connecticut; Goat Hill (Italian; lunch, dinner) at 300 Connecticut; Just For You Bakery & Cafe (breakfast, lunch) at 1453 18th; City Salad (soups, salads; lunch weekdays) at 1434 18th; The Welcome Mat (Caribbean; dinner) at 1341 18th; and San Francisco Bar-B-Q (Thai; lunch, dinner) at 1328 18th.
The school rolled out the welcome mat Wednesday to freshmen and new transfer students during the "Big Move-In" to kick off several days of new student orientation before classes begin Monday.