nitty-gritty

noun

nit·​ty-grit·​ty ˌni-tē-ˈgri-tē How to pronounce nitty-gritty (audio)
ˈni-tē-ˌgri-
: what is essential and basic : specific practical details
get down to the nitty-gritty of the problem
nitty-gritty adjective

Examples of nitty-gritty in a Sentence

the governor tends to leave the nitty-gritty of running the state government to others a look at the nitty-gritty aspects of putting out a newspaper
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Consult with a mental health professional for the true nitty-gritty. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 The record is nitty-gritty garage-rock and sweaty alt-country under the haze of neon barroom lights. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2024 The Electoral College nitty-gritty The margins in all these swing states are extremely tight. Andrew Prokop, Vox, 3 Sep. 2024 These sorts of specific, nitty-gritty details are not well suited for congressional legislation or a judge’s decision. Meredith Moore, Scientific American, 11 July 2024 Watson, in his first day of testimony, put some distance between himself and the financial nitty-gritty at fast-growing Ozy. Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 2 July 2024 Agencies use their expertise to turn broad-brush statutes into nitty-gritty policies, and the courts intervene only in extreme circumstances. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 There, the two talked about the joyful nitty-gritty of not only poetry, but the poets' wellspring, life. Scott Hocker, theweek, 16 Apr. 2024 These hearings are going to be a lot of nitty-gritty details about App Store guidelines. Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 8 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nitty-gritty was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near nitty-gritty

Cite this Entry

“Nitty-gritty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nitty-gritty. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nitty-gritty

noun
nit·​ty-grit·​ty
ˈnit-ē-ˌgrit-ē,
ˌnit-ē-ˈgrit-ē
: what is essential and basic
the nitty-gritty of the problem
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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