0 the level of income people have when they are extremely poor:
1 a group of people waiting outside a particular building to be given food:
2 the level of income someone has when they are very poor, with only just enough money to buy food, pay their rent, etc.:
I do not say that we are reduced to the breadline, but the allowance no longer covers the use of the charter flights.
Most of the people who would benefit—though not all—from the £2¼ billion back in their pockets would spend it, because they are living on the breadline.
A year ago there were 242,000 more persons and their families on the supplementary benefit breadline than at the time of the last election.
Our courts are full of people who are on the breadline.
Today's statement is a package of broken promises and breadline benefits.
The farms in my area are largely family units, which often have a breadline economy.
What effect will forcing people below the breadline have on their subsequent behaviour?
In revenue terms, that will affect people living on the breadline.
