bread-and-butter letter

Idioms and Phrases

A thank-you letter from guest to host. For example, Mother always had to remind the children to send Grandma a bread-and-butter note . [c. 1900]

Example Sentences

One of these is what a college boy recently described in my hearing as the "bread-and-butter letter."

From Project Gutenberg

Within ten days after her departure the guest should write a bread-and-butter letter to her hostess.

From Project Gutenberg

Also, I have a polite bread-and-butter letter from my nice young man in Washington, and a book from him, likewise a box of candy.

From Project Gutenberg