guns and butter
Definitions
Defense and social government spending, especially when seen as a trade-off.
plural, plural-only
Examples
“With colleagues clamouring for money, it suits him to say⟳ we cannot have⟳ both guns and butter.”
“Having to service demands for both guns and butter, the US economy began to overheat; inflation ensued.”
“The experience⟳ of “military Keynesianism” globally, and across history, has never been about guns or butter, but guns and butter.”
CEFR level
C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
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