nitty-gritty

noun

nit·​ty-grit·​ty ˌni-tē-ˈgri-tē 

ˈni-tē-ˌgri-

: what is essential and basic : specific practical details

get down to the nitty-gritty of the problem

nitty-gritty adjective

Synonyms

• everyday
• mundane
• prosaic
• terrestrial
• workaday

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

The promise of regulatory cuts may prove more compelling as a declaration of war against the status quo than a nitty-gritty elimination of individual rules, experts said. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2024

Yet to be hashed out are some nitty-gritty details. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

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