breadbasket

Everyday

1. A breadbasket is a basket or bowl for serving bread at the table. tree →
2. A breadbasket is a region that grows lots of grain, like wheat, and feeds many people: «the breadbasket of the country». tree →
3. (slang, old-fashioned) Your stomach: «a punch in the breadbasket». tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons a breadbasket is a farming area with good soil and lots of wheat or corn, such as the prairies of Canada or the Midwest of the USA. In restaurants the breadbasket comes before the meal. In funny or old stories it means the tummy.

Examples

• The waiter put a warm breadbasket on our table. tree →
• The prairies are called Canada's breadbasket. tree →
• Pass the breadbasket, please. tree →
• Ukraine is often called the breadbasket of Europe. tree →
• The cowboy took a punch in the breadbasket. tree →
• Dad filled the breadbasket with rolls and toast. tree →

Note

Written as one word, sometimes «bread basket» for the real basket. The region sense is a metaphor: the area «feeds» people like a basket of bread.