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church
darken a church door
To attend church or a service therein. I was raised Catholic, but I haven't darkened a church door since I was 15 years old.
broad church
1. A label referring to a group of 17th-century English theologians who adhered to some practices of the Church of England but disregarded other elements of the Church, such as doctrine and liturgical practice. Primarily heard in UK. The broad church movement in 17th-century England may have helped shape the more liberal views and practices of modern-day Christianity.
2. A group or organization composed of various types of people with differing views, opinions, or philosophies. Primarily heard in UK. The Independent Party is a broad church as its members hold wildly differing opinions on how to best solve the problems facing society today.
be as poor as church mice
To have little to no money. Now that we're paying a mortgage, we're as poor as church mice.
Church ain't out till they quit singing.
Rur. things have not yet reached the end. Charlie: No way our team can win now. Mary: Church ain't out till they quit singing. There's another inning to go.
church key
a two-ended device used to remove bottle tops and to pierce a hole in can lids. I'm looking for the church key so I can open this beer. She opened the can of tomato juice with the church key.
nearer the church, the farther from God
Prov. Church officials, or people who live near the church, are not truly pious. Jill: I think our pastor is an evil man. Jane: I didn't think evil men could be pastors. Jill: Of course they can! The nearer the church, the farther from God.
*poor as a church mouse
and *poor as church micevery poor. (*Also: as ~.) My aunt is as poor as a church mouse. The Browns are poor as church mice.
a broad church
(British) an organization that includes many different types of people with different opinions The Congress remains a broad church with members from a diversity of backgrounds.
be as poor as church mice
(old-fashioned) to be very poor When we first got married, we were as poor as church mice.
poor as a churchmouse
Having little or no wealth and few possessions, as in She's poor as a churchmouse, so you can't expect her to donate anything. The reason for this long-used simile is unclear, but most believe that, since churches are not known for storing food, a mouse inside one would fare poorly. It has survived such earlier phrases as poor as Job. [Second half of 1600s]
church key
n. a beer can opener designed to puncture a can, leaving a triangular hole; a bottle opener. (Older. No longer widely known, but still in use. One type of bottle opener is formed from metal following the outline of a large keyhole. This may have contributed to the origin of this term.) Where is the church key when I need it?
See you in church
and CUIC sent. & comp. abb. See you around.; See you where I normally see you. (Has nothing to do with an actual church.) Bye. See you in church.