bread-and-butter
/ˌbred ən ˈbʌtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌbred ən ˈbʌtər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌbred ən ˈbʌt.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌbred ən ˈbʌt̬.ɚ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbred-ən(d)-ˈbə-tər/ (ame, mw)
bread-and-butter — noun
1. the work or business that pays for a person's everyday living expenses
the work or business that pays for a person's everyday living expenses
Wedding photography is still Mara's bread-and-butter during the quiet winter months.
be someone's bread-and-butter
The bakery's bread-and-butter comes from office workers buying lunch every day.
bread-and-butter comes from + customer group
For many small farms, cheese sales are the bread-and-butter of the business.
Repair jobs became our bread-and-butter after tourism slowed in the town.
Without regular school orders, the cafe would lose its bread-and-butter.
- livelihood
broader and slightly more formal; it refers to the means of living in general
- mainstay
focuses on the thing a business or group relies on most
- income source
plain and neutral, but less idiomatic and less vivid
文法句型
be someone's bread-and-butter
the bread-and-butter of + business
用法筆記
Often follows a possessive word or 'be' and usually refers to steady, repeat income rather than a lucky one-time payment. It is common when talking about a person's main job or the core business that keeps a company going.
常見錯誤
bread-and-butter — adjective
1. dealing with ordinary, practical matters that affect daily life and attract wide
dealing with ordinary, practical matters that affect daily life and attract wide public attention
Voters asked bread-and-butter questions about rent, buses, and food prices.
bread-and-butter + questions
The campaign shifted from slogans to bread-and-butter issues in the final debate.
bread-and-butter + issues
Her newspaper column focuses on bread-and-butter problems faced by young parents.
Teachers wanted bread-and-butter policies, such as smaller classes and more books.
The mayor won support by talking about bread-and-butter concerns, not party gossip.
- abstract
focused on ideas rather than concrete daily problems
- theoretical
concerned with ideas or principles instead of practical needs
文法句型
bread-and-butter issue
bread-and-butter question
bread-and-butter concern
bread-and-butter policy
用法筆記
Almost always appears before nouns such as 'issue', 'question', 'concern', or 'policy'. It points to practical daily matters, especially in politics or public discussion, rather than to grand ideas or abstract theory.