bread-basket

A waiter carries a bread-basket to a table.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A container for bread: "bread-basket" refers to a basket or receptacle used to hold and serve bread at a meal.
   • (Slang) The stomach: In informal or slang usage, "bread-basket" means a person's stomach or belly, often used humorously or in sports contexts (e.g., referring to a punch to the midsection).

Usage Examples

• Container for bread:
  • Please pass the bread-basket so I can take a roll for dinner. (The basket containing bread at the table.)
• Slang meaning (stomach):
  • The boxer took a hard hit to the bread-basket and doubled over. (A punch to the stomach area.)

Advanced Usage

• "to hit someone in the bread-basket": to strike a person in the stomach, often in boxing or physical confrontations.
  • He landed a solid blow to his opponent's bread-basket. (He punched the stomach region.)
• "to fill one's bread-basket": to eat a large meal or satisfy hunger.
  • After the hike, we stopped at a diner to fill our bread-baskets. (To eat heartily.)

Variants and Related Words

• Breadbasket (n): a variant spelling often used, especially in American English, as a single word. It can also refer to a region that produces a large amount of grain or food (e.g., "the breadbasket of the country").
  • The Midwest is known as the breadbasket of the United States. (A major agricultural region.)
• Basket (n): a container made of woven materials, such as wicker, used for carrying or storing items.
  • She carried a basket of fruit to the picnic. (A general container.)

Synonyms

• For container: bread holder, bread tray, bread bin.
• For stomach (slang): belly, gut, midsection, tummy.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "to keep one's bread-basket full": to ensure one has enough to eat, often used figuratively.
  • He works hard to keep his family's bread-basket full. (To provide food and sustenance.)
• "to attack the bread-basket": (sports slang) to target an opponent's stomach area, as in boxing or martial arts.
  • The fighter focused his punches on the bread-basket to weaken his rival. (To strike the midsection.)

Related Idioms

• "Bread and butter": one's main source of income or livelihood.
  • Teaching is her bread and butter. (Her primary means of financial support.)
• "Breadwinner": a person who earns money to support their family.
  • He is the breadwinner in the household. (The primary earner.)