breadline

British

/ ˈbrɛdˌlaɪn /

noun

a queue of people waiting for free food given out by a government agency or a charity organization
impoverished; living at subsistence level

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Vocabulary lists containing breadline

The Great Depression and The New Deal

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Example Sentences

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breadline

Yip Harburg and Jay Gorney conceived “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” for the breadline scene in the 1932 revue “Americana,” where it was sung by Rex Weber.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

When the tour’s over, I’m back on the breadline, honey.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2024

Michelle was inspired to launch the project because of her own experience living on the breadline.

From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2024

The true number of people on the breadline may be much higher.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 18, 2023

It seemed brutal to be wading into the bill of fare with poor old Bicky headed for the breadline.

From My Man Jeeves by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023