on the dole

on the dole
Dole Dole, n. [AS. d[=a]l portion; same word as d[=ae]l. See {Deal}.] 1. Distribution; dealing; apportionment. [1913 Webster]

At her general dole, Each receives his ancient soul. -- Cleveland. [1913 Webster]

2. That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a scanty share or allowance. [1913 Webster]

3. Alms; charitable gratuity or portion. [1913 Webster]

So sure the dole, so ready at their call, They stood prepared to see the manna fall. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Heaven has in store a precious dole. --Keble. [1913 Webster]

4. A boundary; a landmark. --Halliwell. [1913 Webster]

5. A void space left in tillage. --[Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]

{Dole beer}, beer bestowed as alms. [Obs.]

{Dole bread}, bread bestowed as alms. [Obs.]

{Dole meadow}, a meadow in which several persons have a common right or share.

{on the dole}, receiving financial assistance from a governmental agency, such as a welfare agency; as, after his unemployment benefits ran out, his family was on the dole for a year. [1913 Webster +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • the dole — UK US noun [S] UK INFORMAL (US welfare) ECONOMICS ► the money that unemployed people receive from the government: »Workers, in their countless thousands, were facing the dole. ● on the dole Cf. on the dole dole adjective [only before noun] …   Financial and business terms

  • (the) dole queue — the dole queue UK US noun british the number of people who do not have a job and who are receiving money from the government Thesaurus: unemployment and unemployedhyponym …   Useful english dictionary

  • Dodging the Dole — is a 1936 British musical comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Roy Barbour, Dan Young and Jenny Howard.[1] It was made by Mancunian Films at Highbury Studios and Southall Studios. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast …   Wikipedia

  • on the dole — ► unemployed and receiving money from the government: »He spent eighteen months on the dole. Main Entry: ↑the dole …   Financial and business terms

  • on the dole — {adv. phr.} Drawing unemployment benefits. * /When Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on the dole — {adv. phr.} Drawing unemployment benefits. * /When Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on the dole —    A person who receives financial assistance from the government when they are unemployed is on the dole.     Their father is on the dole so the family is living on a tight budget …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • on the dole — (UK) Someone receiving financial assistance when unemployed is on the dole …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • on the dole — (informal) Living on unemployment or other benefit • • • Main Entry: ↑dole * * * informal registered as unemployed and receiving benefit from the government …   Useful english dictionary

  • on the dole — Meaning Unemployed. Origin In the UK unemployment benefit is called the dole . Probably comes from doling out meaning handing out …   Meaning and origin of phrases

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