nuts and bolts

American  

noun

1. the essential or basic aspects.

   to learn the nuts and bolts of a new job.

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nuts and bolts British  

plural noun

1. informal  the essential or practical details

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Other Word Forms

• nuts-and-bolts adjective

Etymology

Origin of nuts and bolts

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

All part of the nuts and bolts at a leading Premier League club in 2025.

From BBC

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

It will take longer to thrash out the nuts and bolts that would need to underpin a complex agreement.

From BBC

“Prime Minister” is not be that interested in wrangling, dealing and lawmaking, or even the nuts and bolts of her progressive views.

From Los Angeles Times

The tone swerve into body-count humor and the nuts and bolts of violence eventually prove too much for Crano and Craig to effectively mold into a comedy of perception and privilege.

From Los Angeles Times