the nitty-gritty

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
  • nitty-gritty, the
  • unglued
  • become unglued
  • card
  • carded
  • carding
  • bring (something) with
  • bring with
  • how-d'ye-do
References in periodicals archive
I am not aware of the nitty-gritty happenings all over the country.'
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It's safe to say that all are as defined by their ambitions and dreams as they are by the daily challenges of making theatre, and they bring both a big-picture sense of their art form and an attention to the nitty-gritty details of their respective stage practices.
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Summary: New Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday dwelled upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day State visit to Nepal, explaining the nitty-gritty of the same.
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"It's crazy to think this is our last programmed home fixture before the nitty-gritty, all important endof-season fixtures but we want to keep our winning streak going.
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A When you get down to the nitty-gritty, I don't think they are healthier.
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When the contractor of the project completed briefing on the housing project, the minister raised some objections on the nitty-gritty of the scheme and directed the PHA officials to re-arrange the meeting.
Housing project: minister takes on bureaucrats for badly prepared briefing
"This is the nitty-gritty part of the season and things are going to happen."
Forget the dramatics Fernando
This accessible narrative chronicles Porter efforts, with background on fundraising and political obstacles as well as the nitty-gritty details of exhuming the coffin.
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From bread-making to cooking the perfect three-course meal, students learn the nitty-gritty details of working inside a professional kitchen.
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Several paragraphs later was the nitty-gritty: 230 police staff posts to go, senior roles to be cut back, area commands to be merged, buildings to be closed.
Best of a bad job
The design of the book allows one to read each paragraph heading, and the "bottom line" statement of each small section, only delving deeply into areas for which the nitty-gritty details are still needed.
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Participants of the event will debate the nitty-gritty of the accord on a future US military presence in the country and advise the government on whether or not the deal should be signed.
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"But it's coming to the nitty-gritty now, and it's time to work hard, knuckle down.
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The latter places emphasis on the nitty-gritty of legal practice, from civil and criminal litigation to labour law and the Deeds Registry Office.
When a lawyer smiles
"It's getting down to the nitty-gritty now and I think that''s when we'll see the best of James."
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