get to the heart of

get to the heart of (something)

To discover, determine, and/or understand the essential, core, or most important aspect(s) of some issue, problem, or topic at hand. Don't worry ma'am, we'll get to the heart of the matter of your daughter's disappearance. After two hours tinkering with your computer, I think I've gotten to the heart of the problem. Her latest novel really gets to the heart of what it means to be human.
See also: get, heart, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

get to the heart of

Find or determine the most important or essential facts or meaning. For example, It's important to get to the heart of the matter before we make any decisions. The noun heart has been used in the sense of "a vital part" since the early 1500s.
See also: get, heart, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • get to the heart of (something)
  • lay stress on (something)
  • down to (someone or something)
  • down to somebody/something
  • emphasis
  • lay emphasis on
  • lay emphasis on (something)
  • be in (one's) DNA
  • mom and apple pie
  • motherhood and apple pie
References in periodicals archive
A NEW study to get to the heart of West Midlands' horticulture has been launched to boost business and explore fresh produce opportunities.
Horticulture study launch
Getting to the heart of a character playing somebody who is a character getting to the heart of trying to get to the heart of his own character" Actor Jude Law gets enigmatic about his part in a new film called Rage "Mustard could do with an image makeover" Mark Bosworth, marketing controller of a firm that makes chutneys and dressings, on the decline in sales of English mustard "I am a complete control freak, an absolute nightmare" Singer Victoria Beckham "There was a time when we were almost universally hated by large sections of society.
They said what?