# a little bit of bread and no cheese

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Used to represent the song of the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).

## Examples

- The bird sings a little bit of bread and no cheese.
- Listen closely to the yellowhammer as it sings a little bit of bread and no cheese.
- In the quiet of the meadow, the yellowhammer repeats its distinct song, a little bit of bread and no cheese, throughout the afternoon.

## Origin

Onomatopoeic; the bird’s song is thought to resemble the rhythm of the phrase. (disputed)

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.