crumb of bread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crumb of bread" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small piece or fragment of bread, often in a literal or metaphorical context. Example: "After the meal, there was only a crumb of bread left on the plate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

6. Fill a large pan a third full of vegetable oil, and heat to 170C (or when a crumb of bread sizzles and turns golden, but does not burn, when dropped in it).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After nibbling dozens of lesser versions, I have finally found perfect -- and perfectly shippable -- Maryland crab cakes from FENWICK CRABHOUSE : not a crumb of bread or crackers, just big lumps of crab meat bound with mayonnaise, the famous Old Bay seasoning and eggs (pasteurized in case you are tempted to eat the cakes before you sauté them).

The New York Times - Food

However if you found yourself powerless, naked, covered in dirt, hungry, wet and cold and a human being came to your aid with a crumb of bread, or a bowl of soup, or a cup of water, or a dry shirt, the last thing you would ask them about before you partook in their charity is their religious affiliation.

Huffington Post

On several occasions a subordinate babbler that had just refused food offered by the dominant, immediately approached the observer to take a small crumb of bread, suggesting that despite being hungry it had refused to accept the "gift" from another babbler.

F1000Research

Don't forget to give him a crumb of bread as a treat when he does it!

WikiHow

To test whether it's ready for the hot dogs, drop a crumb of bread into the hot oil.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

A three-day insect festival has spread enthusiasm for this much-maligned section of the animal kingdom like crumbs of bread through an ant colony.

The Guardian

During that time, he would go more than a year without bathing, and his companions, he said, were a tiny frog and rats with whom he shared crumbs of bread.

The New York Times

It was the week before Passover, in a not-really-filled synagogue basement hall — intimate enough for him to lapse into a recollection of the bedikat hametz, the search for crumbs of bread and such, in his childhood home in Würzburg, Germany, on the morning before the seder.

The New Yorker

Every time I open his books, I am amazed anew to discover how this writer, a single human being who rarely left his home town, created for us an entire world, an alternate dimension of reality, and how he continues even now, so many years after his death, to feed us grains of sugar — and crumbs of bread — so that we may somehow make it through the cold, endless winter.

The New Yorker

The 35mm frame of a few crumbs of bread abandoned on the sidewalk is done.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crumb of bread" to evoke a sense of scarcity, smallness, or insignificance, especially in metaphorical contexts. For example, "a crumb of bread" can represent a small act of kindness in dire situations.

Common error

Avoid using "crumb of bread" in formal or technical writing where a more precise term like "small portion of bread" or "bread particle" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "crumb of bread" is as a noun phrase, acting as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically sound. Examples show it denoting a small piece of bread literally or metaphorically.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Wiki

16%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crumb of bread" is a grammatically correct noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe a small piece of bread literally or metaphorically. While not overly frequent, it appears across diverse sources like news, media, science, and encyclopedias. It often evokes themes of scarcity, charity, or something of little value. Alternatives include "morsel of bread" or "bit of bread". Be mindful of the context, avoiding its use in highly formal writing where more precise terms are necessary. Overall, the phrase is well-understood and can add nuanced meaning to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

morsel of bread

Substitutes "crumb" with "morsel", implying a slightly larger but still small piece.

speck of bread

Suggests an extremely tiny piece of bread.

sliver of bread

Replaces "crumb" with "sliver", suggesting a thin, narrow piece.

fragment of bread

Uses "fragment" instead of "crumb", emphasizing a broken piece.

bit of bread

A more general term for a small quantity of bread.

scrap of bread

Implies a discarded or leftover piece of bread.

trace of bread

Emphasizes the minimal amount of bread remaining.

piece of bread

A more generic term, without specifying small size.

tiny amount of bread

Describes the quantity of bread directly, avoiding specific fragment names.

bread particle

A more scientific or technical term.

FAQs

How can I use "crumb of bread" in a sentence?

You can use "crumb of bread" to describe a tiny piece of bread, or metaphorically to represent something small or insignificant. For example, "He offered a "crumb of bread" to the bird" or "She clung to every "crumb of hope"".

What can I say instead of "crumb of bread"?

You can use alternatives like "morsel of bread", "bit of bread", or "scrap of bread" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "crumb of bread" and "piece of bread"?

"Crumb of bread" specifically refers to a very small, often broken, piece of bread. "Piece of bread" is more general and can refer to any portion, regardless of size. A "piece of bread" can be a slice or a larger portion, while a ""crumb of bread"" is always small.

What does "leaving a trail of crumbs" mean?

Leaving a trail of crumbs (or bread crumbs) is an idiom that means leaving clues or hints that lead to something. This expression alludes to the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, where the children left a trail of bread crumbs to find their way back home.