earn his bread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "earn his bread" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to making a living or earning money to support oneself or one's family. Example: "After years of hard work, he finally found a job that allows him to earn his bread comfortably."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I think it was EM Forster who said that he wrote to earn the respect of those he respects, and to earn his bread.

The Guardian - Books

The six satires, amounting to 650 lines, are in hexameters; but what appears as a prologue, in which Persius (an extremely wealthy man) ironically asserts that he writes to earn his bread, not because he is inspired, is in choliambics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The illumination of manuscripts is not a robust profession today, but in the time of the French artist Jean Poyet (circa 1445-1503), a good hand could earn his bread at it and eat cake, too.

The New York Times - Books

Or emigration for anyone who does not want to earn his bread with his hands.

Huffington Post

One judge in sentencing a picketer declared, "You are striking against God and Nature, whose law is that man shall earn his bread by the sweat of his brow.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He earns his bread fixing engines, generators, or just about anything the snowbirds need fixed.

The New York Times

He sees before him an actor who, by speaking certain lines and making certain gestures, earns his bread.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(He adapted the slogan from the traditional English proverb "An apple before going to bed keeps the doctor from earning his bread").

The New Yorker

Salo Flohr came up as a chess journalist in the 1920's and earned his bread by clobbering the big names in the game.

The New York Times

On the hilariously self-regarding Fotheringham, who earns his bread as a sub-editor of a spiritualist paper, Powell hangs the immortal tag: "The aura of journalism's lower slopes hung round him like a vapour".

The New Yorker

Brought up in Cape Breton, young MacLeod went off to the university and has earned his bread over the decades as a teacher of creative writing and 19th-century literature at the University of Windsor.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earn his bread" when you want to evoke a traditional or slightly old-fashioned sense of working for one's livelihood. It can add a touch of historical or literary flavor to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "earn his bread" in overly formal or technical contexts where a more direct phrase like "earn a salary" or "make a living" would be more appropriate. The idiomatic nature of the phrase can sound out of place in certain settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earn his bread" functions as a verb phrase, describing the action of acquiring the means of sustenance through labor or effort. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is used to describe how someone makes a living.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

16%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "earn his bread" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to express the act of making a living. Ludwig confirms it is used to describe how someone supports themselves through work. Although it is not a highly frequent phrase, its use conveys a traditional sense of providing for oneself, often through basic labor. It is mostly found in news and media contexts, and while acceptable, more direct alternatives such as "make a living" or "earn a salary" might be more appropriate for formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Make a living

Focuses on the general action of earning enough money to support oneself.

Support himself

Highlights the act of providing for one's own needs financially.

Earn a salary

Implies a fixed, regular payment for work done.

Bring home the bacon

An idiomatic expression for earning a livelihood, often used in a family context.

Earn his keep

Suggests earning what is needed for basic necessities.

Work for a living

Emphasizes the effort and labor involved in earning money.

Make ends meet

Focuses on managing income to cover expenses.

Earn a wage

Highlights the hourly compensation for work.

Secure his livelihood

Implies a more proactive and potentially challenging effort to earn.

Gainful employment

Focuses on the state of having a job that provides income.

FAQs

What does the idiom "earn his bread" mean?

The idiom "earn his bread" means to make a living or earn money to support oneself through work. It implies providing for basic necessities like food and shelter.

What are some alternatives to "earn his bread"?

You can use alternatives like "make a living", "support himself", or "earn a salary" depending on the context.

Is "earn his bread" a formal or informal expression?

"Earn his bread" is generally considered a slightly informal or traditional expression. In more formal contexts, phrases like "secure his livelihood" or "gainful employment" may be more suitable.

How can I use "earn his bread" in a sentence?

You can use "earn his bread" in a sentence like this: "After years of studying, he finally found a job that allows him to "earn his bread" comfortably."