the meat of the matter

the meat of the matter

The most important, basic, or fundamental essence or element(s) of an issue, problem, or matter at hand. Thank you all for attending this staff meeting. Before we get to the meat of the matter, I'd like to assure each of you that your jobs are secure. Here's the meat of the matter, Bill: we feel you've not been meeting the standards of work that we should be expecting of you in recent weeks.
See also: matter, meat, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • heart and soul
  • root of the matter
  • root of the matter, the
  • the heart of the matter
  • the root of the matter
  • crux
  • crux of the matter
  • crux of the matter, the
  • the crux of the matter
  • the root of the problem
References in periodicals archive
Then he proceeds to get to the meat of the matter: We talk so much of the unsung heroes of Martial Law, have been doing this for more than three decades.
You are carried into Ike's tough life in inner city New York, though sometimes the account dwelt too much on side stories because you want get on with the meat of the matter.
Let's get to the meat of the matter now, the fact that the vast majority of Namibians rarely read and then, normally only for studies.
The meat of the matter lies in the mater's time on screen with her damaad.
Dark, brooding and mysterious, it gives the audience barely a minute to settle into S4C's new offering before it gets to the meat of the matter.
4 [of the SEC's proposed circular], which is the meat of the matter," Herbosa said.
So let us, in the first instance, cut to the meat of the matter. Will the Goldman Sukuk go ahead?
That makes the present volume read like a poor man's cholent, with the meat of the matter lost in filler.
E covered the meat industry's destructive environmental legacy in its 2008 feature "The Meat of the Matter".
Very few have the ability to cut to the chase and get to the meat of the matter better than Chris.
Instead of getting straight to the meat of the matter, Strachan told their reporter it was unusual not to see him standing outside Newcastle in the pouring rain.
Now we get to the meat of the matter. You've been dying to ask me haven't you?
I recently read your articles on the negative environmental impact of the linear industry ("The Meat of the Matter," cover story, July/August 2008).
The meat of the matter at the IFFA Exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany, was increased efficiency and cost savings.
"If you're running a smooth, well-balanced operation with clean, well-maintained schools and money to operate, then a superintendent can really turn to the meat of the matter, which is educating children."