bread and butter
n.
- Means of support; livelihood.
- The essential sustaining element or elements; the mainstay: “As ever, politics, vulgarity and sentimentality were the bread and butter of the Academy Awards” (David Ansen).
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noun
1.
The essential, sustaining element, as in The quality of the schools is the bread and butter of town property values. This idiom alludes to a basic food, bread spread with butter. [c. 1700]
2.
Means of livelihood, as in John's job is the family's bread and butter. [First half of 1700s]
3.
Ordinary, routine, as in Don't worry about it; this is just a bread and butter assignment. [Second half of 1800s]
The noun has one meaning:
Meaning #1:
the financial means whereby one lives
Synonyms: support, keep, livelihood, living, sustenance
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![]() | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more |
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