welcome mat

noun

Definition of welcome mat

: something likened to a mat placed before an entrance as a sign of welcome put out the welcome mat for foreign investors

Examples of welcome mat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Refugees still look back with appreciation to the welcome mat the American government offered. — Anh Do, latimes.com, "Vietnamese refugees who got a warm welcome from America puzzle at family separations, harsh rhetoric," 1 July 2018 The hardened stance reflects a souring national mood, with a far-right party now in Parliament for the first time in more than half a century and Chancellor Angela Merkel under pressure to pull up the welcome mat once and for all. — Griff Witte, Washington Post, "Migrants say these mass shelters are like prisons. Germany wants to build more.," 18 May 2018 Gres, 47, and her husband DeMay, 46, don’t see throwing out the welcome mat as extraordinary. — Elvia Malagon, chicagotribune.com, "Central American mother, children from migrant caravan seeking refuge in Chicago," 12 June 2018 Spread out over the sand at each tiny entrance was an elaborate tracery of crab footprints, as if each crab had woven a fresh lace welcome mat for visitors. — New York Times, "Ghost on the Beach," 28 June 2018 The fumes of acrylic polish waft through an entryway that’s marked with a $100-bill welcome mat. — Kate Branch, Vogue, "Cardi B’s Nail Artist Did My Manicure for the Met Gala—And It Totally Upstaged My Dress," 7 May 2018 Someone stole a welcome mat from a home in the 1500 block of Plymouth Place on April 25, police said. — Alexandra Kukulka, chicagotribune.com, "Police: $1,500 in coins stolen from Glenview business," 4 May 2018 An old couch with a giant stuffed frog lurks in one corner, and welcome mats from Pho Bac still adorn the entrance. — Kate Washington, sacbee, "Saigon Street Eat offers up ultra-cheap Vietnamese food for a burgeoning Broadway," 12 Apr. 2018 The welcome mat is always out for pets at The River Oaks, Romans said. — Valerie Sweeten, Houston Chronicle, "Condo Life: High-rise living means having top luxury, amenities," 24 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'welcome mat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.