bread-and-butter
- 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.
- of or relating to basic needs: housing and other bread-and-butter political issues.
- basic or everyday; staple; routine.
- expressing thanks for hospitality: a bread-and-butter letter.
Origin of bread-and-butter
bread and butter
- bread spread with butter.
- a basic means of support; source of livelihood; sustenance: The automobile industry is the bread and butter of many Detroiters.
Origin of bread and butter
Related Words for bread-and-butter
fiscal, industrial, commercial, monetary, budgetary, material, pecuniary, productive, profitable, remunerative, solvent, viable, bread-and-butter, mercantileExamples from the Web for bread-and-butter
Contemporary Examples of bread-and-butter
“I knew Boyfriend would never really have its chance unless it became my bread-and-butter,” she says.
Get immigration done and the party will be able to compete again on bread-and-butter issues with most of the electorate.
It's easy to see how a governor with a proven track record and a focus on bread-and-butter issues could do well.
Historical Examples of bread-and-butter
Then another slice of bread-and-butter and more gooseberries.
The Skilful CookMary Harrison
He crumpled a piece or two of bread-and-butter and spread crumbs on the cloth.
A Great ManArnold Bennett
It was an excellent tea, with shrimps and bread-and-butter, and cake and jam.
Sue, A Little HeroineL. T. Meade
"Oh, I think there will be plenty of bread-and-butter," said the lawyer.
The Opal SerpentFergus Hume
And he said that kings were nuisances, and didn't earn their bread-and-butter.
Long Live the KingMary Roberts Rinehart
bread and butter
- (modifier) a means of support or subsistence; livelihoodthe inheritance was their bread and butter
- bread-and-butter
- providing a basic means of subsistencea bread-and-butter job
- solid, reliable, or practicala bread-and-butter player
- expressing gratitude, as for hospitality (esp in the phrase bread-and-butter letter)
Idioms and Phrases with bread-and-butter
bread and butter
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]
Means of livelihood, as in John's job is the family's bread and butter. [First half of 1700s]
Ordinary, routine, as in Don't worry about it; this is just a bread and butter assignment. [Second half of 1800s]