ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bread and butter

idiom
Meaning

That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.


Examples
SIMPLE

Selling coffee is the bread and butter of this small shop.

CONTEXTUAL

While the company experiments with new technology, their bread and butter remains the basic software they have sold for years.

COMPLEX

Although the author enjoyed writing experimental poetry, his bread and butter was the series of detective novels that paid his monthly rent.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a little bit of bread and no cheese

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

  2. 02

    best thing since sliced bread

    Alternative form of greatest thing since sliced bread.

  3. 03

    bread and circuses

    Food and entertainment provided by the state, particularly if intended to placate the people.

  4. 04

    bread of life

    Anything which is regarded as a source or inspiration of spiritual nourishment.

  5. 05

    brown bread

    Dead.

  6. 06

    burn bread

    To cause something unfortunate to happen to (someone) by mentioning it; to jinx something for (someone).

  7. 07

    butter face

    Alternative form of butterface.

  8. 08

    butter one's bread on both sides

    To profit from two things at the same time, especially when those things seem contradictory or incompatible.

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