the breadline
1
贫困线, 生存线
an informal threshold of income that marks the level at which a person or household is regarded as very poor or barely able to afford basic necessities
The idiom "the breadline" originated in the early 20th century during the Great Depression, which began in 1929 and lasted for several years. This phrase is used to describe the income level or economic threshold below which a person or family is considered to be living in poverty and experiencing financial hardship.
- Charities warned that cuts to benefits would push more seniors down onto the breadline.
慈善机构警告说，削减福利将使更多老年人陷入贫困线以下。
- Economists argued that the official measure underestimated the number of households actually on the breadline.
经济学家认为，官方衡量标准低估了实际处于贫困线的家庭数量。
- Policy proposals included a targeted tax credit for families hovering just above the breadline.
政策提案包括为略高于贫困线的家庭提供有针对性的税收抵免。
- Many single parents work full time yet still remain near the breadline because of high housing costs.
许多单亲父母全职工作，但由于高昂的住房成本，仍然接近贫困线。
- Regional comparisons showed that the cost of living changed who was considered on the breadline from city to city.
区域比较显示，生活成本改变了从城市到城市谁被视为在贫困线上。
2
领食物的队伍, 救济食品发放队
a line of people waiting to receive free food or other emergency relief distributed by a charity, agency, or community group
- Volunteers handed out sandwiches to those standing in the breadline outside the community center.
志愿者们向社区中心外排队领救济餐的人们分发了三明治。
- During the weeks after the factory closed, the breadline at the church grew longer each morning.
在工厂关闭后的几周里，教堂的施食队伍每天早上都在变长。
- Reporters photographed the breadline forming before dawn on the coldest day of the winter.
记者们拍摄了在冬天最冷的一天黎明前形成的等待救济食物的队伍。
- The nonprofit set up a mobile kitchen to shorten wait times for the downtown breadline.
这家非营利组织设立了一个移动厨房，以缩短市中心领救济食物的队伍的等待时间。
- He joined the breadline once when he fell behind on rent and needed a hot meal.
他有一次加入了施食队伍，当时他拖欠了房租，需要一顿热饭。