Uncle Sugar

English

Etymology

Blend of Uncle Sam +‎ sugar daddy. Popularized by Mike Huckabee, though not original to him.

Proper noun

Uncle Sugar

1. (chiefly Southern US) A personification of the American welfare state.
   • 2004, Shane Russell, Living Hell‎^[1], page 25:

     “Uncle Sugar provides well for me. Because of Uncle Sugar I have a good education and the opportunity to retire when I'm thirty-five years old."

   • 2014, Mike Huckabee, God, Guns, Grits and Gravy‎^[2], page 102:

     [An Obama campaign ad] depicted a woman named Julia who from cradle to grave was dependent on all things "government" and could live her life only with the ever-present and all-guiding hand of Uncle Sugar.

See also

• government cheese