原文在這哦： What Is Your &`&Bread and Butter&`&? Today we talk about a food expression using something most cultures have – bread. 今天，我們用大多數(shù)文化中都有的東西——面包，來討論一個跟食物相關(guān)的表達。 Some people like to dip their bread into olive oil. Some like to spread chocolate on top. But one of the best things to put on bread -- especially if it is warm from the oven -- is butter! 有些人喜歡用面包蘸橄欖油，有些人喜歡在面包上涂巧克力，但跟面包搭配的最好之一是黃油，尤其是當(dāng)面包從烤箱里拿出來冒著熱氣的時候。 Bread and butter is a classic combination. But "bread and butter" also means something almost as comforting: a way to make money! 面包和黃油是經(jīng)典搭配。但是，“面包和黃油”也同樣意味著令人欣慰的事情：賺錢的方式！ Some word experts say the phrase "bread and butter" began in Europe and England during the Middle Ages. At that time, many peasants could only afford bread and butter as their entire meal. Or they would eat it with soup. So, bread and butter was a food staple. And that is what the expression "bread and butter" meant for many years – a basic item for life. After you got your bread and butter, you could then purchase more items for your household. 一些詞匯專家說，“面包和黃油”一詞始于中世紀(jì)的歐洲和英國。那時，許多農(nóng)民只能吃得起面包和黃油作為他們的全部食物，或者他們會和湯搭配著一起吃。所以，面包和黃油在那時是一種主食。這就是“面包和黃油”一詞多年來的含義——它是生活的基本需求。在你得到面包和黃油之后，你才會考慮為你的家庭添置更多的東西。 Then around the 1600s, the meaning changed. People began using it to mean the way they earned a living, or their livelihood. So, that is the origin. Here is how you can use it. 然后在16世紀(jì)左右，它的意思發(fā)生了改變。人們開始把它作為他們謀生的方式或他們的生計。所以，這就它是起源。以下是使用它的方法。 Let&`&s say you really like to write and perform songs. But you do not make enough money doing those things to pay for your housing, groceries and other expenses. So you get a job as a website designer. If someone asks what you do, you could say, "Well, I&`&m a musician. But designing websites is my bread-and-butter." In other words, designing websites pays your bills. Making music ... does not. So, you count on web design for your "bread and butter." 假設(shè)你真的很喜歡寫歌和唱歌。但是你做這些事情掙不到足夠的錢來支付你的住房、雜貨和其他開支，所以你找了一份網(wǎng)頁設(shè)計師的工作。如果有人問你做什么，你可以說，“好吧，我是個音樂家，但是設(shè)計網(wǎng)站是我的生計。”換句話說，設(shè)計網(wǎng)站能支付你的賬單，創(chuàng)作音樂則不能。所以，你的“面包和黃油”是網(wǎng)站設(shè)計。 For some people, it is important to have a stable bread-and-butter job. They get nervous if they do not have a steady paycheck coming in. Being a doctor is a good bread-and-butter job. If you are an import-export specialist, you could say business and trade are your bread and butter. 對一些人來說，有一份穩(wěn)定的工作是很重要的。如果沒有穩(wěn)定的薪水進賬，他們就會緊張。做醫(yī)生就是一項很好的（很穩(wěn)定）的工作。如果你是一個進出口專家，你可以說生意和貿(mào)易就是你的面包和黃油。 Now, if you really like your job and it pays well, you probably want to keep it. And if you work for someone else, you probably want to keep them happy. In other words, you should know which side your bread is buttered on."To know which side your bread is buttered on" means you are aware of the people who can help you. But this expression has a bad feel to it. It means being unusually aware of how others can help you. 現(xiàn)在，如果你真的喜歡你的工作，并且報酬很不錯，你可能想保住它。如果你為別人工作，你可能想討他們開心。換句話說，你應(yīng)該知道你的面包哪一邊涂了黃油?！爸滥愕拿姘谀囊贿呁奎S油”意味著你意識到了那些能幫你的人，但是這個表達有一種不好的感覺，這說明要異乎尋常地意識到別人是如何幫助你的。 dip v. 蘸；浸 oven n. 烤箱，烤爐，灶 butter n. 黃油; 黃油狀的食品; vt. 抹黃油于…上; combination n. 結(jié)合體；聯(lián)合體；混合體 peasants n. 農(nóng)民( peasant的名詞復(fù)數(shù) ); 農(nóng)夫; 佃農(nóng); 粗俗的人 food staple 主食 origin n. 起源；源頭；起因 import-export specialist 進出口專家