bread-and-butter

¹ American  

[bred-n-buht-er] / ˈbrɛd nˈbʌt ər /

adjective

1. providing a livelihood or basic source of income; supplying the basic needs of life.

   a bread-and-butter job; the agency's bread-and-butter account.

2. of or relating to basic needs.

   housing and other bread-and-butter political issues.

3. basic or everyday; staple; routine.

4. expressing thanks for hospitality.

   a bread-and-butter letter.

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bread and butter ² American  

noun

1. bread spread with butter.

2. a basic means of support; source of livelihood; sustenance.

   The automobile industry is the bread and butter of many Detroiters.

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bread and butter British  

noun

1. (modifier) a means of support or subsistence; livelihood

   the inheritance was their bread and butter

2. 1. providing a basic means of subsistence

      a bread-and-butter job

   2. solid, reliable, or practical

      a bread-and-butter player

   3. expressing gratitude, as for hospitality (esp in the phrase bread-and-butter letter )

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bread and butter Idioms  

1. The essential, sustaining element, as in The quality of the schools is the bread and butter of town property values . This idiom alludes to a basic food, bread spread with butter. [c. 1700]

2. Means of livelihood, as in John's job is the family's bread and butter . [First half of 1700s]

3. Ordinary, routine, as in Don't worry about it; this is just a bread and butter assignment . [Second half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of bread-and-butter¹

First recorded in 1720–30; adj. use of noun phrase bread and butter

Origin of bread and butter¹

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

When it was put to her that Westminster showed no interest in the request, Morgan said: "I think what people in Wales are concerned with are the bread and butter issues in their daily lives."

From BBC

But messages about the values of imparting empathy are part of the bread and butter of “Star Trek” and she welcomed that.

From Los Angeles Times

He came away from those discussions believing that investors are undervaluing the degree to which AI has made memory, specifically the dynamic random access memory that is Micron’s bread and butter, “a more strategic asset.”

From Barron's

He came away from those discussions believing that investors are undervaluing the degree to which AI has made memory, specifically the dynamic random access memory that is Micron’s bread and butter, “a more strategic asset.”

From Barron's

Celtic thought they could take a gamble on Nancy because they couldn't imagine a world where any other side could rival their hold over the league title, their bread and butter.

From BBC