know what side of one's bread is buttered
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.83 in modern English
56
Scrabble Score
33
Letters
3
Syllables
15
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Wal, I see by the papers where Adlai Stevenson came home from his ’round-the-world tour. With all that strife in Europe, and strikes in Paris, he seems to know what side of his bread is buttered."
- "For example, if I hear, “We will start (something somewhat speculative that takes real initiative) next week,” I know what they really mean is that, in a month, I will have the same conversation with them again. Is it that bad? Yes. People aren’t lazy, and they always know what side of their bread is buttered, but there is a prevailing lack of intention or awareness."
- "Ballot access cases are overseen by hearing officers, who generally are smart enough to know what side of their bread is buttered—if you catch my drift."
Inflected Forms
knows what side of one's bread is buttered (present, singular)
knowing what side of one's bread is buttered (participle, present)
knew what side of one's bread was buttered (past)
knew what side of one's bread is buttered (past)
known what side of one's bread was buttered (participle, past)
known what side of one's bread is buttered (participle, past)