whist drive: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, historical, British-specific
Quick answer
What does “whist drive” mean?
A social event where multiple tables of players compete in the card game whist.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A social event where multiple tables of players compete in the card game whist.
An organized tournament or session of whist, often held as a fundraising or community event, involving several rounds of play with players moving between tables.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Almost exclusively a British/British Commonwealth term. In American English, 'whist' is a known but rarely played historical game; 'whist drive' as an event type is virtually unknown.
Connotations
In British English: evokes village halls, church fundraisers, older generations, traditional social gatherings. Can have quaint or old-fashioned connotations.
Frequency
Low frequency in contemporary British English, primarily encountered in historical contexts, literature, or among older speakers/communities.
Grammar
How to Use “whist drive” in a Sentence
[Subject] organized/hosted a whist drive.The whist drive [raised/featured/included]...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whist drive” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The whist drive in the parish hall raised fifty pounds for the roof fund.
- My grandmother never misses her Thursday whist drive.
American English
- The historical society is hosting a Victorian-era whist drive as a period event.
- Whist drives were common in early 20th-century American communities, though the term is now archaic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in historical or sociological texts discussing 20th-century British social life.
Everyday
Very rare in contemporary everyday use except in specific community announcements (e.g., village newsletter).
Technical
In card game history or rulebooks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “whist drive”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “whist drive”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whist drive”
- Using it to refer to a single game of whist. *'We had a whist drive after dinner.' (Incorrect for a single table).
- Confusing it with 'bridge drive' (a similar event for the game of bridge).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered old-fashioned. It is primarily found in historical contexts, literature, or in the activities of some older social groups, particularly in the UK.
No, the term specifically connotes a physical, in-person social event with a formal structure (multiple tables, movement of players). An online tournament would not be called a 'drive'.
The structure is identical, but the game played is different (whist vs. contract bridge). 'Bridge drives' are more common in modern times as bridge surpassed whist in popularity.
The term likely relates to the organized, driven (purposeful) nature of the event and the 'driving' or movement of players between tables in a systematic way during the tournament.
A social event where multiple tables of players compete in the card game whist.
Whist drive is usually formal, historical, british-specific in register.
Whist drive: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɪst ˌdraɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɪst ˌdraɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'whist drive'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'WHISTle for a DRIVE' – imagine a referee whistling to start a car rally, but it's a card game event.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SOCIAL EVENT IS A JOURNEY/DRIVE (players 'drive' through the rounds, 'move' between tables).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of a 'whist drive'?