Can You Live on the Breadline?

be on the breadline
To be very poor, as if one could (or does) rely on food donations to survive. A "breadline" is a line of people seeking food distributed by a charitable or government agency. If I don't make a big sale this week, my family will be on the breadline.

What does it mean living on the breadline?

British. : the level of income at which someone is considered poor : poverty line people living below/near/on the breadline.

Where does the phrase on the breadline come from?

The Origin - Where does 'Living on the Breadline' Come From? The 'breadline' was literally a queue for free food handed out by the US government in the 1820s. Living 'in' the breadline evolved to 'on' or 'below' as it became a term to describe living in borderline poverty, especially in the UK.

David Miller

David Miller

Executive Financial & Market Analyst

David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.