名词 “breadwinner” 来自 “bread（面包）” 和 “winner（赢家）”。这个合成词的字面意思是 “赢回面包的人”，它实际用来指 “外出工作、挣钱养家的人”。如果想强调某人是全家唯一的经济支柱，则可以在 “breadwinner” 前加上形容词 “sole（唯一的）”，即 “the sole breadwinner（家中唯一养家糊口的人）”。

• We both used to work, but when the baby was born, Mike became the sole breadwinner.
  我们俩过去都工作，但孩子出生后，迈克成为了家里唯一挣钱养家的人。
• As a single mum, my sister had to work to pay the bills. She was the sole breadwinner of the family.
  作为一个单身母亲，我妹妹不得不工作赚钱，支付家庭开支。她是家里唯一的经济支柱。
• After Barry lost his job, Tina became the main breadwinner.
  巴里丢掉工作后，蒂娜成了家里主要的经济来源。