Meaning of bread and butter | Babel Free

Definitions

1. That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.
   idiomatic, plural, singular
2. The basic requirements of living, such as food and housing.
   idiomatic, plural, singular
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bread, butter.
   plural, singular

Equivalents

Examples

“They will do some machining if you ask⟳ them, but sheet metal has always been their bread and butter.”

““There’s a big lockout at the foundry.” / “Lockout, what!” cried several. / “Sure as blazes, boys; just when the procession was passin’ I takes a squint at the big foundry door, and there I seen it writ, as clear as sunshine with a hole through it, on a bit o’ paper, that the ould foundry’s shut⟳ after Sathurday next, till further notice⟳. Divil a bit less, but I’m shure them’s the very words.” / Silence fell on the crowd in the tobacco smoke⟳. Most of them were foundry-men and had families. Their bread and butter were at stake.”

“Every escort has at least one or two regular clients; they are our bread and butter.”

“What the nation, like⟳ the man, earns for itself by the honest labor of its people—when a man exerts himself to anything in an honorable calling—he is said to be earning his bread and butter, which includes his food and clothes and house-rent and all the rest⟳ of the thing [sic] he pays for. Now, if a man does not earn⟳ his bread and butter, he must either have⟳ it given to him as a gift, or steal⟳ it, as our forefathers nearly all did, honest, good people, too, as they were. ... It is worth while examining as to whether we earn⟳ all our bread and butter ... We ought to look⟳ after the bread and butter on our farms, and see⟳ that we eat⟳ the best bread and butter.”

“The bread-and-butter were good enough, but the ale poorish.”

“[I]n the centre stood an enormous table laid for tea—four cups and saucers, piles of bread and butter, crumpets, coconut cakes and a large plum cake with pink icing.”

CEFR level