on relief

Idioms  

1. Also, on welfare; on the dole. Receiving public financial assistance, as in Half the people in this town are on relief, or Don hated the idea of going on welfare. The first two terms originated in the United States in the 1930s, when government assistance of this kind was first instituted. On the dole, used mainly in Britain but occasionally in America, dates from the 1920s, although the use of dole for a charitable gift dates from about 1200.

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Example Sentences

Many Goma residents previously relied on relief supplies delivered through the city’s international airport, but the rebels have shut the airport down, hobbling aid groups’ efforts to replenish depleted stocks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

The Recording Academy announced that the 67th Grammy Awards, planned for Feb. 2 in Los Angeles, will go forward with a focus on relief efforts.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2025

It calls for loan clauses that allow for suspending payments when a country is hit by a natural disaster or pandemic, thus freeing up millions of dollars that could be spent on relief and rebuilding.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 21, 2023

"Right now, our focus is on relief and rehabilitation efforts and restoring normalcy."

From Reuters • Jun. 16, 2023

Most folks in Key West were on relief.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm