meat-and-potatoes

or meat-and-po·ta·to

[ meet-n-puh-tey-tohz, -tuh z ]

/ ˈmit n pəˈteɪ toʊz, -təz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR meat-and-potatoes ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Informal.

fundamental; down-to-earth; basic: What are the meat-and-potatoes issues of the election?

Nearby words

meat house, meat loaf, meat packing, meat tea, meat wagon, meat-and-potatoes, meat-ax, meatal, meataxe, meatball, meath

Origin of meat-and-potatoes

First recorded in 1945–50

Definition for meat-and-potatoes (2 of 2)

meat and potatoes

noun (used with a singular or plural verb) Informal.

the essential or basic part: Community service is the meat and potatoes of this program.

Origin of meat and potatoes

probably earlier than 1950–55

Examples from the Web for meat-and-potatoes

Think of what a meat-and-potatoes Democrat like Ed Rendell would do in the job.
The Truth About Obama-Era Inequality|Stuart Stevens|December 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A meat-and-potatoes Democrat like Ed Rendell would make jobs and the economy the true top priority of his administration.
Poverty Plagues Obama’s America, Press Based in Booming Cities Shrugs|Stuart Stevens|April 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Idioms and Phrases with meat-and-potatoes

meat and potatoes

The fundamental part or parts of something, as in This paragraph is the meat and potatoes of the contract. This metaphoric term transfers what some regard as basic fare to the basics of an issue. [Mid-1900s]