the nitty-gritty

noun

informal

: the most important and basic facts or details about something

He deals with the nitty-gritty of running the department.

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty and find out what happened.

Examples of the nitty-gritty in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Best time to visit Athens Best months: October–May Many people tack a stay in Athens onto the start or end of a Greek island jaunt during the busy summer period—but consider instead dedicating a good week to digging into the nitty-gritty of this dynamic city. —Helen Iatrou, AFAR Media, 9 Apr. 2025

Some of the nitty-gritty distinctions within Sanders’ accuracy numbers are alarming, as well. —Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025

In a world where innovation is happening at unprecedented rates, this conference hones in on the nitty-gritty discussions about how industries must adapt. —John Hall, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025

Previously, Trump had led with his priorities but hadn’t got into the nitty-gritty as much. —Emily Brooks, The Hill, 6 Feb. 2025

Rhymes for the nitty-gritty

• atomicity
• catholicity
• ellipticity
• historicity
• mutuality
• bitty
• city
• ditty
• gritty
• kitty
• nitty
• pity