breadline
Britishnoun
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a queue of people waiting for free food given out by a government agency or a charity organization
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impoverished; living at subsistence level
Vocabulary lists containing breadline
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
But, unfortunately, people are living on the breadline and it is very difficult if you have three children and you are on a minimal income.
From BBC • Aug. 22, 2025
When the tour’s over, I’m back on the breadline, honey.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2024
The true number of people on the breadline may be much higher.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2023
For two or three days he had been taking up his position among the beggars of the breadline, when once he caught sight of Roberto entering the barracks.
From The Quest by Goldberg, Isaac
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
