bread and butter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bread and butter" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an idiom meaning something that is the basic necessity of life, or the primary source of income. For example: "Teaching is his bread and butter; it's what allows him to put food on the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

"They are bread and butter".

The New York Times

"That's their bread and butter.

The New Yorker

I'ts my bread and butter".

The New Yorker

"Bread and butter, brother.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He's our bread and butter.

The Guardian

"It's their bread and butter".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

"We're their bread-and-butter".

The New York Times

These bread-and-butter effects are everywhere.

The New Yorker

Visual puns are his bread-and-butter.

The Guardian

And good bread-and-butter pudding too.

The New York Times - Food

"This is our bread-and-butter business," Kühn said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Apply the hyphenated form "bread-and-butter" when it acts as a compound adjective preceding a noun, such as "bread-and-butter issues" or "bread-and-butter business".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in contexts where the literal food items might be confused with the idiom. In a culinary review, be explicit to ensure the reader knows if you are talking about the quality of the appetizer or the restaurant's primary revenue stream.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bread and butter" functions primarily as an idiomatic noun phrase. In many of the examples provided by Ludwig, it serves as a predicate nominative (e.g., "It's my bread and butter"). Ludwig AI confirms its status as an established English idiom used to define the core or essential part of an entity's existence or income.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

General Reference

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academic Research

3%

Legal Documents

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bread and butter" is a robust and widely accepted idiom in the English language. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to denote a person's livelihood or the central, most important element of a business or situation. One of the most important takeaways from analyzing real-world usage is the distinction between its role as a noun and its role as a compound adjective; the latter requires hyphenation (e.g., "bread-and-butter tasks"). Whether you are writing for a major news outlet or a business blog, this phrase provides a clear, evocative way to describe the foundational aspects of any subject. Ludwig's data highlights its frequent appearance in high-authority media, confirming it as a reliable choice for professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary source of income

A formal and literal description of a person's main way of making money.

livelihood

Refers more literally to the means of securing the necessities of life.

mainstay

Emphasizes the role of something as a person or thing on which something else is based or depends.

staple

Indicates a main or important element of something, often used in retail or dietary contexts.

means of support

A slightly more formal way to describe how one provides for themselves.

meat and potatoes

Suggests the most basic and fundamental aspects of something, often with a more informal tone.

core business

Specific to corporate environments, identifying the primary activity of a company.

cornerstone

Highlights something as the essential or foundational part of a larger structure or system.

sustenance

Focuses more on the nutritional or biological necessity of maintaining life.

nuts and bolts

Refers to the practical, functional details rather than the source of income.

FAQs

How do I use "bread and butter" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a primary source of income or a fundamental part of a business. For example: "Selling insurance is the company's "bread and butter"."

What can I say instead of "bread and butter"?

Depending on your context, you could use terms like "livelihood", "mainstay", or "meat and potatoes".

Is it "bread and butter" or "bread-and-butter"?

Both are correct but used differently. Use the hyphen when it is an adjective, as in "bread-and-butter issues". Use no hyphen when it is a noun.

Does "bread and butter" always mean money?

Not necessarily. While it often refers to "income", it can also refer to the most basic or routine parts of a job, such as "routine patrols are the "bread and butter" of police work."