nuts and bolts
Americannoun
plural noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of nuts and bolts
First recorded in 1955–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“If you don’t know the ins and outs and nuts and bolts inside City Hall, how are you going to be mayor?” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
Consider the personal-finance nuts and bolts involved in that kind of situation.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026
But China has a broad supply chain of manufacturers that make the nuts and bolts of humanoids, including sensors, batteries and other components.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026
If he is hiding any nuts and bolts under those blonde locks of his, Haaland did prove he was still human by missing a couple of chances to complete his hat-trick.
From BBC • Nov. 2, 2025
In the window there were trays of nuts and bolts, worn-out chisels, penknives with broken blades, tarnished watches that did not even pretend to be in going order, and other miscellaneous rubbish.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
