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to know which side one's bread is buttered on
to know which side one's bread is buttered on
01
to know the exact way to treat others or how to act so as to get what one desires
![to [know] which side {one's} bread is buttered on definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/44674/original/?type=jpeg "to [know] which side {one's} bread is buttered on definition and meaning")
Idiom
Informal
What is the origin of the idiom "know which side one's bread is buttered on" and when to use it?
The idiom "know which side one's bread is buttered on" has its origins in the practice of buttering bread. The phrase has been in use for centuries and was used both literally and figuratively. In a literal sense, it referred to the act of spreading butter on one side of a slice of bread to make it more palatable. Figuratively, it is now used to advise someone to recognize their own best interests and make choices that benefit them.
Examples
Mark never argues with the directors; he knows which side his bread is buttered on.
