nitty-gritty
[ nit-ee-grit-ee ]
/ ˈnɪt iˈgrɪt i /
noun
the essential substance or details of a matter; basics; crux: Let's skip the chitchat and get down to the nitty-gritty.
adjective
fundamental, detailed, or probing: nitty-gritty questions.
direct and practical: nitty-gritty advice; a nitty-gritty system.
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Nearby words
nitryl, nits-and-lice, nitti, nitti, francesco saverio, nitty, nitty-gritty, nitwit, niu tireni, niuan, niue, niuean
Origin of nitty-gritty
An Americanism dating back to 1960–65; rhyming compound of uncertain origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for nitty-gritty
British Dictionary definitions for nitty-gritty
nitty-gritty
/ (ˈnɪtɪˈɡrɪtɪ) /
noun
the nitty-gritty informal the basic facts of a matter, situation, etc; the core
Word Origin for nitty-gritty
C20: perhaps rhyming compound formed from grit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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