Search
Select the dictionary language
one's bread and butter
01
the main source of a person or business's income
Idiom
What is the origin of the idiom "one's bread and butter" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "one's bread and butter" can be traced back to the 18th century in England. Bread and butter have been staple foods for many people throughout history, and they symbolize the basic necessities of life. It is used to describe the main source of income or the primary activity through which someone earns a living.
Examples
Freelance writing is her bread and butter.
bread-and-butter
01
* providing a basic means of subsistence
Grammatical Information
Composition
Compound
relational
ungradable
Examples
a bread-and-butter job
02
* relating to people's practical, everyday needs and concerns
Examples
These are hardly the bread-and-butter concerns of struggling farmers.
