Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

on the breadline

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.76 in modern English

Syllables: on the bread-line
IPA

20

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

2

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

In a situation of extreme poverty; relying on food donations or having only enough to survive.

Example Sentences

"She wasn't on the breadline exactly, but she didn't have an awful lot of spare cash to throw around, and she always, always lived within her means."
"This life continuously trapped on the breadline was not what I wanted, not forever."
"He was wearing a grubby white shirt, jeans and scuffed black slip-on shoes. Anyone would think he was on the breadline too."
"With capital of about £16,000 I wasn't exactly on the breadline."
"There were times where money was tight and we probably were on the breadline, but I still never really wanted for anything."
"Britain survived on the breadline."

Inflected Forms

below the breadline (alternative)

Questions

What does on the breadline mean?: In a situation of extreme poverty; relying on food donations or having only enough to survive.

How to pronounce on the breadline

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