hatch, match, and dispatch

plural hatches, matches, and dispatches · alternative hatch, match and despatch

1. The major milestones of a person's life: birth, marriage, and death.

   He gave great attention and care to 'hatch, match and dispatch', exulting when those whom he had married in Chapel brought back their offspring to be baptised.

   2012, Roger Holloway, Revd Roger Holloway Obe Ma

   2 more examples

   “We get the news, especially the important hatch, match, and dispatch info” (as the births, marriages, and deaths columns were referred to). “But we also have it as foot warmers, and we cut it up into toilet paper, too..."

   2004, Bill Cullen, It's a Long Way from Penny Apples

   All is as it should be for the hatch, match and dispatch Christians to go home reassured they do not have to come to church until Easter when Jesus will die for their sins and if he sees his shadow on the third day we will have six more weeks of winter.

   2014, James K. Stewart, The Bible According to Jim

present singular third person hatches, matches, and dispatches · participle present hatching, matching, and dispatching · participle past hatched, matched, and dispatched · past hatched, matched, and dispatched · alternative hatch, match and despatch

1. slangTo preside over the ceremonies surrounding birth and naming, marriage, and funerals or memorial services.

   The loose attitude often is that the church is there to 'hatch, match and dispatch' its people and if it can, 'take their money.'

   2014, Shirley Harder, The Vine

   2 more examples

   It is no longer sufficient for rabbis to "hatch, match and dispatch," to serve as CEO's of synagogues or to preside over annual High Holiday pilgrimages.

   1997, Sh'ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility - Issues 525-544, page 8

   The Independent reports that the Church of England "is facing the final nail in the coffin of its claim to 'hatch, match and dispatch' the nation.

   1998, The Living Church - Volume 217, page 131