get down to the nitty-gritty

get down to the nitty-gritty

To become focused on the most important or fundamental aspects of a particular situation. The manager always likes to begin the weekly meetings with an informal discussion before getting down to the nitty-gritty. We eventually got down to the nitty-gritty and came up with a solution.
See also: down, get
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

get down to the nitty-gritty

to get down to the basic facts. Stop messing around and get down to the nitty-gritty. If we could only get down to the nitty-gritty and stop wasting time.
See also: down, get
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

get down to the nitty-ˈgritty

(informal) start discussing the basic, especially the practical aspects of a matter/decision: Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Who’s going to pay for the renovations? We talked for an hour without really getting down to the nitty-gritty of the problem.
See also: down, get
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

get down to the nitty-gritty

in. to get down to the basic facts. (see also nitty-gritty.) If we could only get down to the nitty-gritty and stop wasting time.
See also: down, get
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • bottlewasher
  • chief cook and bottle washer
  • chief cook and bottlewasher
  • get down to the nuts and bolts
  • bedrock
  • be the chief cook and bottle washer
  • the meat and potatoes
  • bricks and mortar
  • nuts and bolts, the
  • the nuts and bolts of something
References in periodicals archive
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty: Tell us what it was like to have the adorable Verraros in such a compromising position.
Each episode of The Sex Inspectors opens with an introduction to the couple before they get down to the nitty-gritty of why they are unhappy with their sex life.