staff of life

noun

1. bread, considered as the mainstay of the human diet.

staff of life

1. A basic staple food, such as bread, rice, or potatoes: “Rice is the staff of life in eastern Asia .”

Word History and Origins

Origin of staff of life¹

First recorded in 1630–40

Idioms and Phrases

A staple or necessary food, especially bread. For example, Rice is the staff of life for a majority of the earth's people . This expression, which uses staff in the sense of “a support,” was first recorded in 1638.