know which side one's bread is buttered on

idiom

informal
: to know how to act or how to treat others in order to get what one wants
He pretends to be impartial, but believe me, he knows which side his bread is buttered on.

Dictionary Entries Near know which side one's bread is buttered on

know what one is talking about

know which side one's bread is buttered on

know-why

Cite this Entry

“Know which side one's bread is buttered on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/know%20which%20side%20one%27s%20bread%20is%20buttered%20on. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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