eat the bread of idleness

eat the bread of idleness

To eat food that one has not personally earned. The phrase originated in the Bible. I refuse to eat the bread of idleness.
See also: bread, eat, idleness, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

eat the bread of idleness

eat food that you have not worked for. literary
This phrase appears in the description of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:27: ‘She…eateth not the bread of idleness’.
See also: bread, eat, idleness, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • idleness
  • bread is the staff of life
  • break bread
  • break bread with
  • break bread with (someone)
  • someone's bread and butter
  • your bread and butter
  • bread and butter
  • long bread
  • brown bread
References in classic literature
Besides, that would be all recreation and indulgence, without the wholesome alloy of labour, and I do not like to eat the bread of idleness. No, my plan is to make Fanny Price in love with me."
Mansfield Park
"I DO NOT LIKE TO EAT THE BREAD OF IDLENESS'" (229).
The Book of Proverbs in Jane Austen's pride and prejudice