bread and butter

idiom

The phrase "bread and butter" is often used idiomatically to refer to something fundamental or essential, particularly in the context of livelihood or basic needs.

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Definition

B2Finance and Business

(idiomatic)The primary source of income or support.

Example

Freelancing is his bread and butter.

B2Daily Life

(idiomatic)Basic necessities required for living.

Example

Food and shelter are considered bread and butter for survival.

C1Superstition

(informal, superstition)A phrase said to avoid bad luck when two people are momentarily separated by an obstacle.

Example

They said 'bread and butter' as they walked around the lamppost.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "bread and butter":

butter bread put butter on one's bread daily bread white bread break bread brown bread egg bread hare's bread biscuit bread bread flake bread ticket poor man's butter peanut butter and jelly wheat bread bread and circuses prosciutto bread fried bread butter pear meat and potatoes toast sandwich