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

See Examples For:

on relief

At the time of the crash, the NDMA's focus remained on "relief, rescue and rehabilitation", according to Dr Venkatesh.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

Canada’s minister in charge of U.S.-Canada trade, Dominic LeBlanc, said this week that progress on lifting the alcohol ban, which is under provincial jurisdiction, would be contingent on relief from U.S. sectoral tariffs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

The committee singled out several local nonprofits, focused on relief and development for minorities and marginalized groups, for criticism.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2026

Analysts say about 15 billion euros had already been spent in this year’s budget, some of it on relief for consumers’ high energy bills.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 24, 2023

One woman telephoned to say that she had decided to quit and go on relief instead.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole