sum and substance

American  

noun

1. main idea, gist, or point.

   the sum and substance of an argument.

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sum and substance Idioms  

1. The essence or gist of something, as in The sum and substance of their platform is financial conservatism. This redundant expression—both sum and substance here mean “essence”—has probably survived owing to alliteration. Shakespeare used it in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (4:1): “My riches are these poor habiliments [clothes], Of which if you should here disfurnish me, You take the sum and substance that I have.”

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Etymology

Origin of sum and substance

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

Their experiences living under the threat of invasion during World War II, Mr. Loconte writes, persuaded them “to use imaginative literature to remind us that the material world, with its temporal aims, is not the sum and substance of our mortal lives.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“I don’t recall the exact words, but I do recall that in sum and substance he indicated that State Bar funds would not be used to pay for the trip to Mongolia,” said Miriam Krinsky, a former board member.

From Los Angeles Times

That was sum and substance of his justification for abolishing a power Congress had exercised for centuries.

From Slate

But for Muslims, it was Tuesday’s rite of praying at Arafat that represented the sum and substance of the Hajj.

From Seattle Times

"In sum and substance, defendant Allen Weisselberg stated that the commute to work from Long Island was difficult," two investigators said a defendant statement disclosure filed in New York Supreme Court after the arrest.

From Salon

Related Words

• analysis
• essence
• outline
• prospectus
• recap
• rehash
• review
• rundown
• sketch
• survey
• synopsis
• version