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

Comcast’s bread-and-butter broadband Internet business has seen a lackluster performance in recent quarters. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

The experimentation with routes makes United a standout among U.S. and global airlines that have largely stuck with bread-and-butter additions. —Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2024

Noun

Space launches might be the company’s bread and butter, but pulling off a successful landing would be something else entirely. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2024

Zoë Kravitz surely isn’t ready to hang up the sheer looks that have become the bread and butter of her wardrobe. —Alice Newbold, Vogue, 24 Oct. 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