bread-and-but·ter
ˈbred-ən(d)-ˈbə-tər 
1
a
: being as basic as the earning of one's livelihood
bread-and-butter issues
b(1)
: reliable
our bread-and-butter repertoire
(2)
: dependable as a source of income
a company's bread-and-butter products
2
: sent or given as thanks for hospitality
a bread-and-butter letter
: a means of sustenance or livelihood
Examples of bread-and-butter in a Sentence
Noun
Casual clothing has always been the company's bread and butter.
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
From blue-collar workers to parents struggling with inflation, people want leaders who prioritize bread-and-butter issues over ideological litmus tests.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Anantaajith Raghuraman, The Athletic, 31 July 2024
Beware the Batman New Batman series have been the bread and butter of Warner Bros. animation for years, but not all of them are a hole-in-one.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bread-and-butter 
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Adjective
Those numbers suggest that the Republicans believe the transgender attack line is a motivating issue for their base, even on par with bread-and-butter economic concerns like reducing inflation or creating jobs.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
From blue-collar workers to parents struggling with inflation, people want leaders who prioritize bread-and-butter issues over ideological litmus tests.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
Osimhen was also required to play further away from the penalty area, with increases in mid-third touches (8.5 from 7.9) and drops in touches in the final third (15.4 from 18.8) and penalty area (6.9 from 8.1) per 90, which took him away from his bread and butter as a threat in the box.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, The Athletic, 31 July 2024
Beware the Batman New Batman series have been the bread and butter of Warner Bros. animation for years, but not all of them are a hole-in-one.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bread-and-butter
Dictionary Entries Near bread-and-butter
Cite this Entry
“Bread-and-butter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bread-and-butter. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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