On today's show about English words and expressions , we are going to talk about bread . Now , most countries around the world have some sort of bread in their food culture . No matter what shape or flavor it has , bread sustains people . It not only helps them to survive but also to feel satisfied and comfortable . Maybe that is how the word “bread ” got its slang meaning . You see , “bread ” -- and the raw form “dough ” – both can mean “money .” In the song “I Get Around ,” the Beach Boys sing about “making real good bread ” to attract women . And they do not mean a baguette ! If you make a lot of “bread ” at a job , your employer is paying you well . On the other hand , if you are out of bread , you do not have any way to pay for your expenses . You are broke ! Using bread and dough this way may sound a little outdated . But you will hear it used that way . So , it's good to know . And bread meaning money is used in several English expressions . Take for example , this very current , common and useful expression -- breadwinner . Even though “bread ” here means "money ," the word breadwinner does not mean someone who has won money in a competition . A “breadwinner ” is a person who makes money for others . They are the ones who pay the bills in a family . They support or provide for dependents . So , we can also call a breadwinner a “provider .” Let's hear it used in this example . I saw Elsa the other day . She looked so tired . What's going on ? She has a lot of pressure on her right now . Her parents are both really sick . So , she is now the breadwinner for her whole family ! Doesn't she have a brother in college ? So , she has to provide for all of them . No wonder she looked so tired . She has to support a lot of dependents on one salary . To throw another food expression into the discussion , the breadwinner in a family is also the person who brings home the bacon . These days , some people also use “cheese ” to mean money . Put bread , bacon and cheese together and you have a lot of money not to mention a really tasty sandwich ! Now , if you are the sole breadwinner for your family , it is important that you keep your job . It would be cruel for someone to take the bread out of your mouth . That does not mean they stole your sandwich while you were eating it . This expression means they took away your ability to make money -- your livelihood . And that would be terrible for your whole family ! If you lose your livelihood you could end up on the breadline . A "breadline " is a line of people seeking food from a charity or government agency . In the 1930s during the economic depression in the United States , it was common to see hundreds of people in big cities waiting on breadlines . So , being “on the breadline ” describes someone who depends on food donations to survive . We do have some other “bread ” expressions but they will have to wait for another time .