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'I was outside all night standing on line' Does this connect in any way with the ?depression era phrase on the breadline ?
"On the breadline" meant you were having hard times and in need ... implied a continuing, if temporary, state and since many were in the same position there was no criticism implied.
But, "on the dole" meant someone who was malingering, looking to others for continuing support ... not getting up off your duff and looking for work.
Mostly we say "in line" when, for example, waiting to buy movie tickets
"On line" has a connotation of camping out to be sure of getting tickets to an one-time event : a rock concert or the last game of the World Series. I'd thought "on line" was imported from UK ... where did I go wrong?
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