nuts and bolts

Related to nuts and bolts: Fasteners

the nuts and bolts

The most basic, fundamental, or essential aspects of something. Japanese is intimidating because of the written characters, but the nuts and bolts of the language are actually pretty straightforward. We came up with a lot of big ideas, but no one addressed the nuts and bolts of how to implement them.
See also: and, bolt, nuts
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

nuts and bolts

 
1. Fig. the mundane workings of something; the basics of something. (See also get down to the nuts and bolts.) I want you to learn how to write well. You have to know the nuts and bolts of writing. She's got a lot of good, general ideas, but when it comes to the nuts and bolts of getting something done, she's no good.
2. Sl. the subject of psychology in college. I took a class in nuts and bolts and didn't learn anything at all about what makes me tick. Tom is flunking nuts and bolts because he won't participate in the required "experiments."
See also: and, bolt, nuts
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

nuts and bolts

the basic practical details of something. informal
See also: and, bolt, nuts
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the nuts and ˈbolts (of something)

(informal) the most important and practical details of something: Jim put together the nuts and bolts of the deal; I added the details. He worked there long enough to learn the nuts and bolts of the business.
Nuts and bolts are small pieces of metal that are screwed together to fasten things together.
See also: and, bolt, nuts
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

nuts and bolts

1. n. the mundane workings of something; the basics of something. She’s got a lot of good, general ideas, but when it comes to the nuts and bolts of getting something done, she’s no good.
2. n. the subject of psychology in college. Tom is flunking nuts and bolts because he won’t participate in the required “experiments.”
See also: and, bolt, nuts
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

nuts and bolts, the

The essential components of something. This allusion to basic machine parts, dating only from the mid-twentieth century, is mildly puzzling. Why nuts and bolts rather than nuts and screws, for example, or even wheels and gears? Whatever the ultimate reason, it is these two items that caught on. T. E. Allbeury used it in A Choice of Enemies (1973), “That’s pretty well a nuts and bolts area for us. We know it inside out.”
See also: and, nuts
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • nuts and bolts, the
  • the nuts and bolts
  • the nuts and bolts of something
  • get down to the nuts and bolts
  • rust up
  • for nuts
  • bust nuts
  • bust nuts to do something
  • bust one’s nuts
  • bust one’s nuts to do something
References in periodicals archive
Provincial railroad officials said the removal of the 600 nuts and bolts left 125 meters (400 feet) of track unmoored.
A spokesman for the National Railway said the problem of stolen nuts and bolts exists in scattered parts of the country.
Train derailed after bolts in rail line are stolen
Nuts and bolts became cheap to buy and interchangeable, making life much easier for mechanics.
Holding it all together: making nuts and bolts by hand
RaceX locking wheel nuts and bolts can only be opened by a special socket key and are available in numerous sizes to fit all makes and models including UK, European and Japanese vehicles.
MotoringWales: RaceX can stop thief; NUTS AND BOLTS
When all the nuts and bolts remaining in a set have been used, any remaining construction components are useless, and vice versa.
The Erector Set, with its nuts and bolts connectivity, allows connection to almost anything with a hole, while simultaneously making the connection/part-interaction process tedious, often resulting in many simple constructions with novel appendages: chaos is the result.
Toys As Models. (Agile And Otherwise)
At its Web site, browsers can type detailed information about all the grommets in their house and obtain a computer-generated diagram of what their properties will look like 25 years from now when all those nuts and bolts have rusted together.
Grueling experiences
* Okay, okay, by this point in your life you probably know which way to turn nuts and bolts, but I still often find myself reciting the little ditty "Right to tight, left to loose."
Using sockets and ratchet wrenches - painlessly!
The tests showed that whereas conventional nuts and bolts often shake loose in fewer than 10 hours, the Stage 8 fasteners remained secure for at least 200 hours.
The nuts and bolts of threaded fasteners
Vibration loosens nuts and bolts that hold the brake actuator air chamber clamp together.
The PM scoop