eaten bread is soon forgotten
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Kind deeds or favors are often forgotten by the beneficiary once they have been performed.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Promised increases in productivity following previous pay rises never materialised -- as eaten bread is soon forgotten -- but we'll be paying for the crumbs for a long time to come.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “eaten bread is soon forgotten” mean?
Kind deeds or favors are often forgotten by the beneficiary once they have been performed.
Is “eaten bread is soon forgotten” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.