on the dole
idiom
: receiving money that a government (especially the British government) gives to people who do not have jobs or who are very poor
They've been on the dole for a year.
They're going on the dole.
Cite this Entry
“On the dole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20dole. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share