government cheese

English

Noun

government cheese (uncountable)

  1. (US, food, historical) A poor quality processed cheese, similar to regular American cheese, produced and stored in the 1970s and 1980s from excess dairy milk production from dairy subsidies, created by the U.S. government to support the milk industry, and for long term storage.
  2. (US, food, historical) Processed cheese provided to welfare and food stamp recipients in the United States during the 1980s and early 1990s (coming from such stocks).
  3. (US, hyperbolic, humorous) Any inexpensive unexceptional cheese.
    Synonyms: rat-trap cheese, rat cheese
    Eww, no. Don't be putting that government cheese on my sandwich! Give me the havarti!
  4. (US, politics, economics, by extension) Welfare in general.
    Near-synonym: largesse

See also

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