Synonyms

nitty-gritty

American

[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.

nitty-gritty British

/ ˈnɪtɪˈɡrɪtɪ /

noun

informal the basic facts of a matter, situation, etc; the core

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of nitty-gritty

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65; rhyming compound of uncertain origin

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.

While Brussels is setting out the nitty-gritty of the reforms it wants from Magyar, leaders will also be pushing for a new approach on Ukraine.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

Students learn why they exist—and nitty-gritty issues such as deductions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

But I’m not interested in getting into the nitty-gritty of it all.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

Get into the nitty-gritty early on so you’re not scrambling the day of.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 28, 2025

The nitty-gritty factual stuff was his specialty, not mine.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023