Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

know which side one's bread is buttered on

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.83 in modern English

Syllables: know which side one's bread- is but-tered on
IPA

59

Scrabble Score

34

Letters

3

Syllables

15

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be aware of where one's interests lie in a situation.

Example Sentences

"They are all stupid when they are not crafty, and very few of them are crafty. The only wise Republicans are the millionnaires and their conscious henchmen. They know which side their bread is buttered on, and they know why."
"He knows which side his bread is buttered on through in all probability he never realised what it is to be without regular meals."
"Many of them must have agreed in their hearts, and applauded his courage secretly. But their foolishness was of the world; they knew which side their bread is buttered on."

Inflected Forms

knows which side one's bread is buttered on (present, singular) knowing which side one's bread is buttered on (participle, present) knew which side one's bread was buttered on (past) knew which side one's bread is buttered on (past) known which side one's bread was buttered on (participle, past) known which side one's bread is buttered on (participle, past) know on what side one's bread is buttered (alternative) know on which side one's bread is buttered (alternative) know what side one's bread is buttered on (alternative) know what side of one's bread is buttered (alternative) know what side of the bread is buttered (alternative) know which side of one's bread is buttered (alternative)

Phrases

butter one's bread on both sides

Frequently Paired Words

butter one's bread on both sides

Questions

What does know which side one's bread is buttered on mean?: To be aware of where one's interests lie in a situation.

How to pronounce know which side one's bread is buttered on

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