An Americanism dating back to 1850–55
First recorded in 1815–25
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We do not need to staff the CIA with Mister or Ms milk toast.
From New York Times ● Apr. 20, 2018
He savored a final meal of eggs and grits, apple juice and milk, toast and a sweet doughnut stick.
From New York Times ● Sep. 30, 2012
Leach's attorneys also claim that Hance twice told the attorney investigating the mistreatment complaint to change her report because it was "too mild" and "too milk toast," court documents show.
From Newsweek ● Apr. 16, 2010
Let me tell you, my character is milk toast compared with some of those people.
From Time Magazine Archive
Cereal and milk, toast, bacon, fried eggs—the smells of breakfast seemed to hang over the raft.
From "The River" by Gary Paulsen
As Taft had said, it was no milk-toast affair.
From Time Magazine Archive
They feed me nothin' but slops—soup an' gruel an' custard an' milk-toast.
From Oh, You Tex! by Raine, William MacLeod
A little too suggestive of milk-toast, I’m afraid, Marion.
From Caps and Capers A Story of Boarding-School Life by Relyea, C. M. (Charles Mark)
Then eat slowly a little light food, such as milk-toast or very hot beef-tea.
From The Secret of a Happy Home (1896) by Harland, Marion
When Rebecca entered the house, her mother was standing over the stove, making milk-toast for supper.
From Pembroke A Novel by Freeman, Mary Eleanor Wilkins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
