staff of life


noun

bread, considered as the mainstay of the human diet.

Origin of staff of life

First recorded in 1630–40

Cultural definitions for staff of life

staff of life

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

Idioms and Phrases with staff of life

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.