Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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noun
The case of a person or group receiving public benefits, although the benefits are not actually needed by the recipient or are obtained by fraud.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
The imagery is of a person arriving at a welfare office in a Cadillac automobile (an expensive car) to pick up a welfare payment. The implication is that the person does not need the benefit, or that the benefits are too generous.
