IdiomFood & Drink
French
FrenchMettre du beurre dans les épinards
Meaning: To improve one's financial situation; to make life a bit more comfortable.
Literally: To put butter in the spinach
Example: “Ses cours du soir mettent un peu de beurre dans les épinards.” — Her evening classes bring in a little extra money.
Origin: Spinach was plain, cheap fare; butter was the small luxury that made it palatable. Adding it stands for the modest extra income that lifts an ordinary living just above bare necessity.
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