know what side of one's bread is buttered

know what side of one's bread is buttered (third-person singular simple present knows what side of one's bread is buttered, present participle knowing what side of one's bread is buttered, simple past knew what side of one's bread was buttered or knew what side of one's bread is buttered, past participle known what side of one's bread was buttered or known what side of one's bread is buttered)

1. Alternative form of know which side one's bread is buttered on.
   • 1953 August 20, Grampaw Ned Oakley, “Grampaw Oakley”, in Pottstown Mercury, volume 22, number 281, Pottstown, Pa.: Pottstown Daily News Publishing Co., published 21 August 1953, →OCLC, page 4, column 1:

     Wal, I see by the papers where Adlai Stevenson came home from his ’round-the-world tour. With all that strife in Europe, and strikes in Paris, he seems to know what side of his bread is buttered.

   • 2012, anonymous author, “Flakiness and the Obnoxiously Busy”, in Tim Culvahouse, editor, arcCA: Architecture California, the Journal of the American Institute of Architects, California Council, Sacramento, Calif.: American Institute of Architects, California Council, →OCLC, page 17, column 2:

     For example, if I hear, “We will start (something somewhat speculative that takes real initiative) next week,” I know what they really mean is that, in a month, I will have the same conversation with them again. Is it that bad? Yes. People aren’t lazy, and they always know what side of their bread is buttered, but there is a prevailing lack of intention or awareness.

   • 2018 December 6, Ben Joravsky, “Which mayoral candidates will survive the petition challenge process?”, in Anne Elizabeth Moore, editor, Chicago Reader, volume 47, number 10, Chicago, Ill.: STM Reader, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 6:

     Ballot access cases are overseen by hearing officers, who generally are smart enough to know what side of their bread is buttered—if you catch my drift.