Have you seen the phrase 'on the dole' somewhere and would like to know more about the meaning of the saying? 'On the dole' is a saying that is more common in UK English than American, and it can confuse many people the first time they encounter the term. This post unpacks its meaning, origin, and common use.
Meaning
The phrase 'on the dole' is an English saying that refers to someone who is on welfare assistance.
A more common term in the United Kingdom and Australia than the US, the 'dole' refers to state-run programs that offer financial (or other) assistance to applicants.
The phrase 'on the dole' means that someone is receiving active welfare assistance, usually from the state.
Someone can 'be on the dole' or 'not on the dole' as the opposite of the phrase.
Sometimes the phrase can be used as an insult to imply that someone requires financial assistance of some sort – e.g. “You're wearing the type of shoes that you'll only buy if you're on the dole.”
Most uses of the phrase 'on the dole' are serious and not insulting, and refer to the literal process of someone using state assistance.
The phrase can be said directly to someone, but might also appear in reference to someone who is being discussed.
Example Usage
“After my dad lost his legs in the accident, we spent the last ten years living on the dole and if it wasn't for that we would have starved to death.”
“They're on the dole, and they manage to get by with it every month even though they don't have a luxurious lifestyle.”
“If you lose your job in the next five weeks, you're going to have to go on the dole just to make sure we eat.”
“My parents had to go on the dole, and at some point my mom just decided she had enough and asked my dad for a divorce.”
Origin
The common saying 'on the dole' can be traced back to the first World War according to most online language resources,
Before this the word 'dole' entered the English language somewhere around the 1400s to refer to any charity, often food or financial aid that was given to the poor (whether by the state or church).
By the time of World War I, the phrase 'on the dole' entered popular use amongst soldiers – and would later continue as a common phrase in some countries to refer to welfare assistance.
By the 1950s to 1960s, the phrase 'on the dole' was a regular term used to refer to state assistance – and the saying had adopted the meaning that is used today.
Urban Dictionary lists the phrase from 2004, and mentions that it is more common in Australian English.
Phrases Similar to On the Dole
- On welfare
Phrases Opposite to On the Dole
- N/a
What is the Correct Saying?
- On the dole
Ways People May Say On the Dole Incorrectly
There are several ways in which someone can use the phrase 'on the dole' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the meaning of the phrase.
The word 'dole' refers to government assistance programs and their help, and not the trademarked company Dole.
The phrase cannot be used as 'on the doles' as 'dole' is enough even when referring to more than one thing.
The phrase cannot substitute any other words for 'on' as this would change the meaning of the phrase – e.g. someone cannot be 'in the dole'.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase On the Dole
The correct way to use the phrase 'on the dole' is to use the saying to say that someone (or several people) depend on government run assistance programs (called the dole).
The phrase is more common in the United Kingdom and Australia than in the United States, where similar assistance is referred to as welfare.