wheat bread
Ellipsis of whole-wheat bread.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I prefer to buy wheat bread for my sandwiches.”
“The bakery ran out of white rolls, so I bought a loaf of wheat bread instead.”
“Seeking a healthier lifestyle, she replaced her usual white flour products with hearty, fiber-rich wheat bread.”
From Middle English *whete bred*, the term is a compound of *wheat* and *bread*. It shares a common Germanic construction with the German *Weizenbrot*, the Danish *hvedebrød*, the Swedish *vetebröd*, and the Icelandic *hveitibrauð*.
- 01
a little bit of bread and no cheese
Used to represent the song of the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella).
- 02
best thing since sliced bread
Alternative form of greatest thing since sliced bread.
- 03
bread and butter
That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.
- 04
bread and circuses
Food and entertainment handed out by those in power to keep the public quiet.
- 05
bread of life
Anything which is regarded as a source or inspiration of spiritual nourishment.
- 06
brown bread
Dead.
- 07
burn bread
To cause something unfortunate to happen to (someone) by mentioning it; to jinx something for (someone).
- 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.
Last updated August 10, 2026