bread-and-butter

[bred-n-buht-er]

See more synonyms for bread-and-butter on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

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

bread and butter

noun

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

First recorded in 1620–30

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bread-and-butter

Contemporary Examples

“I knew Boyfriend would never really have its chance unless it became my bread-and-butter,” she says.
From Church of Christ to Pansexual Rapper
Tyler Gillespie
November 28, 2014
Get immigration done and the party will be able to compete again on bread-and-butter issues with most of the electorate.
Marco Rubio’s Big Moment Could Come With Immigration Reform
David Freedlander
January 30, 2013
It's easy to see how a governor with a proven track record and a focus on bread-and-butter issues could do well.
The GOP's New Hope?
Reihan Salam
November 20, 2009

Historical Examples

Then another slice of bread-and-butter and more gooseberries.
The Skilful Cook
Mary Harrison
He crumpled a piece or two of bread-and-butter and spread crumbs on the cloth.
A Great Man
Arnold Bennett
It was an excellent tea, with shrimps and bread-and-butter, and cake and jam.
Sue, A Little Heroine
L. T. Meade
"Oh, I think there will be plenty of bread-and-butter," said the lawyer.
The Opal Serpent
Fergus Hume
And he said that kings were nuisances, and didn't earn their bread-and-butter.
Long Live the King
Mary Roberts Rinehart

British Dictionary definitions for bread-and-butter

bread and butter

noun

(modifier) a means of support or subsistence; livelihoodthe inheritance was their bread and butter
bread-and-butter
1. providing a basic means of subsistencea bread-and-butter job
2. solid, reliable, or practicala bread-and-butter player
3. expressing gratitude, as for hospitality (esp in the phrase bread-and-butter letter)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with bread-and-butter

bread and butter

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]

bread-and-butter

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}bread-and-butter

bread and butter

Origin of bread and butter

Related Words

Examples from the Web for bread-and-butter

Contemporary Examples

“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

Then another slice of bread-and-butter and more gooseberries.

He crumpled a piece or two of bread-and-butter and spread crumbs on the cloth.

It was an excellent tea, with shrimps and bread-and-butter, and cake and jam.

"Oh, I think there will be plenty of bread-and-butter," said the lawyer.

And he said that kings were nuisances, and didn't earn their bread-and-butter.

bread and butter

Idioms and Phrases with bread-and-butter

bread and butter

1

2

3

Origin of bread-and-butter