hellfare

English

Etymology

Blend of hell +‎ welfare, equivalent to hell +‎ fare.

Noun

hellfare (uncountable)

1. Deplorable welfare; welfare that causes more anguish than good.
   • 1989, Saul Alinsky, Reveille for Radicals:

     He hesitated again before he said: “Well, we have done a lot of welfare work." “Welfare!" I exclaimed. “You can boast of that? You must know what labor calls that—hellfare work."

   • 2008, Norman T. Gates, Richard Aldington:

     I am willing to pay a fair amount, but not to be mulcted in that vindictive way, and nuts to the Hellfare State.

   • 2009, Robert Cowen, Andreas Michael Kazamias, Elaine Unterhalter, International handbook of comparative education:

     Not surprisingly, the quest for resources other than from the public purse received no small urging by governments and Ministry, though obviously the degree of pressure brought to bear and the means by which it was brought to bear, are legion depending on the state of national wealth and hellfare!

See also

• hellthcare