How do you use "Bread and butter" in a sentence?

Teaching is my bread and butter. Small businesses are the bread and butter of this economy. Photography is my bread and butter work.

Bread and butter

Q: What does "Bread and butter" mean?

Basic income or livelihood; core business The fundamental source of income, the basic work that pays the bills. Bread and butter are staple foods; figuratively, they represent basic financial security.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Basic income or livelihood; core business

基本收入或生计；核心业务

Ingreso básico o sustento; negocio principal

基本的な収入や生計、中核的な仕事

기본적인 수입이나 생계 수단; 핵심 사업

The fundamental source of income, the basic work that pays the bills. Bread and butter are staple foods; figuratively, they represent basic financial security.

基本的收入来源，付账单的基础工作。面包和黄油是主食；比喻基本的经济保障。

La fuente fundamental de ingresos, el trabajo básico que paga las facturas. El pan y la mantequilla son alimentos básicos; en sentido figurado, representan la seguridad económica básica.

基本的な収入源、生活費を賄う基本的な仕事。パンとバターは主食であり、比喩的に基本的な経済的安定を表す。

근본적인 수입원, 생활비를 벌기 위한 기본적인 일을 의미합니다. 빵과 버터는 주식이며, 비유적으로 기본적인 경제적 안정을 나타냅니다.

Examples

Teaching is my bread and butter.
教书是我的饭碗
La enseñanza es mi sustento
教えることが私の飯の種だ
가르치는 것이 내 밥벌이다
Small businesses are the bread and butter of this economy.
小企业是这个经济的基础
Las pequeñas empresas son el pilar de esta economía
中小企業はこの経済の屋台骨だ
중소기업은 이 경제의 근간이다
Photography is my bread and butter work.
摄影是我赖以谋生的工作
La fotografía es mi trabajo de sustento
写真撮影が私の生計の仕事だ
사진 촬영이 내 생계 수단이다

Pronunciation

/bred ən ˈbʌtə/

Usage Guide

Context: income, livelihood, business

Tone: practical, matter-of-fact

✓ Do Say

It's my bread and butter
这是我的饭碗
Es mi sustento
それが私の飯の種だ
그게 내 밥줄이야
Bread and butter work
谋生的工作
Trabajo que da de comer
生活のための仕事
생계를 위한 일

✗ Don't Say

Very common business expression
非常常见的商务用语
Expresión empresarial muy común
ビジネスの場面で非常に一般的な表現
매우 흔한 비즈니스 표현

Common Mistakes

None—universally understood

Origin & History

From bread and butter being basic, essential food—the simplest meal that sustains life. Extended to mean the basic work that provides sustenance (income).

Etymology: From bread and butter as basic sustenance

First recorded: Traditional, widespread

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Business discussions; Common idiom

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Bread and butterBread-and-butter