leaf-raking

Definitions

1. The act or process of raking leaves.
   uncountable
2. Marginally productive government-financed employment.
   US, derogatory, uncountable, usually

Examples

“Relief was essential and began under Hoover; then, under Roosevelt, relief turned into leaf-raking, and leaf-raking turned into constructive enterprise.”

“public agencies were to plan⟳ building programs that would do the job and preserve⟳ communities from “the necessity of feeding hungry men through the expediency of 'leaf-raking' projects or the dole or soup lines.”

“Yet neither man came close⟳ to realizing his early political promise⟳, or to forgiving the tendency of the average voter to sell⟳ his birthright for a leaf-raking job or Social Security card.”

CEFR level