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bread and butter

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someone's bread and butter

Fig. someone's basic income; someone's livelihood—the source of one's food. I can't miss another day of work. That's my bread and butter. I worked as a bartender for a year, and it was the tips that were my bread and butter.

See also: and, bread, butter

your bread and butter

something that provides you with regular income Our customers are our bread and butter, so treat them with respect.

See also: and, bread, butter

somebody's bread and butter

  (informal)

a job or activity that provides you with the money you need to live Teaching at the local college is his bread and butter.

See also: and, bread, butter

bread and butter

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]

See also: and, bread, butter

bread and butter

n. one’s livelihood. It’s bread and butter to me. I have to do it.

See also: and, bread, butter