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bread-and-butter issue

Other forms: bread-and-butter issues

A bread-and-butter issue is one that affects everyday people, like tax rates or road conditions.

Basic, fundamental matters are bread-and-butter issues. Issues that have some connection to money are often described this way too, especially by politicians and journalists. Historically, the term bread-and-butter has been used in various ways, especially in the United States and Canada, to mean either something basic — like enough income to live on — or ordinary.

Definitions of bread-and-butter issue
  1. noun
    an issue whose settlement will affect financial resources
    synonyms: pocketbook issue
    see moresee less
    type of:
    issue
    an important question that is in dispute and must be settled
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