know on which side one’s bread is buttered—know where one’s interest lies:
- The judges know on which side their bread was buttered. They would strain a point in favor of the highest political opinion of the day.
Cf.: butter one’s bread on both sides—be in very comfortable circumstances; be well provided for:
- He’s got marble floors in there, crystal figurines on the shelves…. Like we say at home, he butters his bread on both sides.
Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase not know which end is up—be utterly confused:
- I didn’t know which end was up when I first entered the classroom and I had every problem one could imagine…
know which way the wind blows—understand what is happening in changing circumstances:
- I will say this for the Pharmaceutical Association, they know which way the wind blows, recognizing an opportunity when they see one.