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

Intel is likely to see its bread-and-butter CPU sales pick up with a more compelling portfolio of products and recovery in demand. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

In a pinch, Maryland turned to its bread-and-butter tactic: defense Villanova scored 40 points in the first half and 35 in the second. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024

Noun

But Aftersun and things like that [indie movies], that’s my bread and butter in terms of what I’m drawn to as an actor. —Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024

Bloomingdale’s Cyber Monday Deals Cyber Week is a department store’s bread and butter, and Bloomies is wasting no time treating us all to some very nice deals. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 2 Dec. 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