Synonyms

staff of life

staff of life

noun
bread, considered as the mainstay of the human diet.

Origin:
1630–40
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Staff of life is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

staff of life definition


A basic staple food, such as bread, rice, or potatoes: “Rice is the staff of life in eastern Asia.”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

staff of life

A staple or necessary food, especially bread. For example, Rice is the staff of life for a majority of the earth's people. This expression, which uses staff in the sense of "a support," was first recorded in 1638.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
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