put food on the table
Support the household
Put food on the table means to earn enough money to provide basic necessities for oneself or one's family.
The phrase emphasizes practical survival over career ambition or fulfillment: It's not glamorous work, but it puts food on the table.
Someone who puts food on the table is the household's primary earner or provider.
- earnGain by working
- bring homeConvey to one's dwelling
- cookHeat food for eating
- livelihoodMeans of earning income
- eatConsume for sustenance
serve · subsistence · wages · paycheck to paycheck · dependents · employment · caregiving · family · family support · necessity · dine · obligation · breadwinner · making ends meet · tight budget · provide · hard work · daily grind
put food on the tablethrow money away
Spend recklessly, gaining nothing
fritter away · live beyond one's means · splurge · indulge · wine and dine
putting, putter, foodie, table, tables, tabled, tabling, tabular, tabulate