General
the dole
What does the dole mean?
Government unemployment welfare payments.
"He's been on the dole since the factory closed."
Origin
From 'dole' (a distributed share); British/Australian for the benefit.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'the dole' mean?
It's the informal term for government unemployment benefit payments.
What does 'on the dole' mean?
It means someone is unemployed and receiving welfare payments from the government.
Where does the word 'dole' come from?
It comes from an old sense of 'dole' meaning a portion or share that is handed out.
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