nitty-gritty

Related to nitty-gritty: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

the nitty-gritty

The specific facts, details, or elements of something. The manager always likes to begin the weekly meetings with an informal discussion before getting down to the nitty-gritty.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the nitty-gritty

The nitty-gritty of something is its most basic and important features. Now down to the nitty-gritty. I've been fat since I was 14 and been on countless unsuccessful diets. It is easy to lose sight of your aims in the nitty-gritty of daily life. Note: Nitty-gritty is also used before nouns. Let us look at the nitty-gritty problems now.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

nitty-gritty

(ˈnɪdi ˈgrɪdi)
n. the essence; the essential points. (Usually in get down to the nitty-gritty.) Once we are down to the nitty-gritty, we can begin to sort things out.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

nitty-gritty, the

The heart of the matter, the fundamentals. According to lexicographer J. E. Lighter, this expression originated in black English and may be a rhyming elaboration of grit, but that has not been verified. It often is put as get down to the nitty-gritty. Nat Hentoff had it in Jazz Country (1965), “Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.” See also under get down to brass tacks.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • nitty-gritty, the
  • the nitty-gritty
  • unglued
  • become unglued
  • card
  • carded
  • carding
  • bring (something) with
  • bring with
  • how-d'ye-do
References in periodicals archive
this programmed offs Isle of now we focus meeting "It's crazy to think this is our last programmed home fixture before the nitty-gritty, but we want to keep our winning streak going.
Brum told: Take care of business
True to the title, this small volume is a nitty-gritty guide to social media for the librarian looking to embark on a social media campaign.
Solomon, Laura. The Librarian's Nitty-Gritty Guide to Social Media
I've thought a lot recently about the big battle for health reform versus the daily, nitty-gritty work on women's health.
Fighting for women
Harris delves into the nitty-gritty commercial, legal, and political complications, and the long-term ways that global space exploration will transform the world's cultures, economies, and political systems.
Space enterprise: living and working offworld in the 21st century
for years, and had the pleasure of working with him here at Handgunner for the past eight years and, simply put, I don't know anyone else who I can call who can give me the nitty-gritty answers to just about anything having to do with ballistics, full auto guns, custom work (especially on Contenders) and get a boatload of life-experience seasoning tossed into the fray.
J.D. wins big
They could phone, email, video conferences and or get together face to face to thrash out the nitty-gritty
Letter: Postal troubles
Lead singer Inara George is the unlikely spawn of Little Feat front man Lowell George--born of nitty-gritty rock and roll and now a swan-necked chanteuse whose vocals continually float high up into the ether.
Lazy day music
Each of these institutions in the wild-though different in size, makeup, and geographic location--recognizes the demand for a truly authentic, nitty-gritty outdoor learning experience--all in a wilderness environment that provides a natural backdrop for its students and faculty.
Call of the wild: students get authentic outdoor learning experiences at these American colleges and universities
And given the current state of worldly affairs--the War on Terror, testing nuclear arms--people are ready for the nitty-gritty laced with positive messages.
Damian Marley
The author lays out the nitty-gritty exactly how the players align and go into motion, cadence, misdirection, and flip the line ...
Coaching a Wing-T Based Multiple Offense
All nitty-gritty stuff, but if you can't keep to the rules, nojudge will be convinced that you are professional.
Gold Quill: prove you're one of the best
The little journal (C.I.) is worth its weight in gold in keeping us focused on the "nitty-gritty" of contemporary issues.
Re September issue
It will also provide the nitty-gritty details of BIDs (Business Improvement Districts), entitlement applications and preparing for the CEcD exam.
City gearing up to welcome world's top real estate professionals
We've been together for six months and she's very loving and passionate, but as soon as we get to the nitty-gritty she pushes me on to my back and leaps on top.
She always has to be on top for our sex sessions