bread-and-butter

1 of 2

adjective

bread-and-but·​ter ˈbred-ən(d)-ˈbə-tər 

1

a

: being as basic as the earning of one's livelihood

bread-and-butter issues

b(1)

: reliable

our bread-and-butter repertoire

(2)

: dependable as a source of income

a company's bread-and-butter products

2

: sent or given as thanks for hospitality

a bread-and-butter letter

bread and butter

2 of 2

noun

: a means of sustenance or livelihood

Examples of bread-and-butter in a Sentence

Noun

Casual clothing has always been the company's bread and butter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Here is what is at stake: AI arrives Artificial intelligence has long been considered a serious but vague threat to the bread-and-butter of journalism, with news and service stories that a computer might eventually be able to spit out faster and a lot cheaper. —Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2024

Rules for determining compensation in bread-and-butter situations like this are long established by legislation and court decisions. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 May 2024

Noun

Traditionally, that’s meant learning new skills and mastering new areas of study, which is Pearson’s bread and butter. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 8 May 2024

And live albums are like the bread and butter of the Gospel/worship genre. —Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1770, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bread-and-butter

adjective

ˌbred-ᵊn-ˈbət-ər

1

a

: concerned with or being as basic as earning a living

bread-and-butter economic issues

b

: dependable

bread-and-butter products that always sell

2

: sent or given as thanks for hospitality

a bread-and-butter note