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nitty-gritty

nit·ty-grit·ty
N n

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [nit-ee grit-ee]
    • /ˈnɪt i ˈgrɪt i/
    • /ˈnɪtɪ ˈɡrɪt.i/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [nit-ee grit-ee]
    • /ˈnɪt i ˈgrɪt i/

Definitions of nitty-gritty word

  • noun nitty-gritty the essential substance or details of a matter; basics; crux: Let's skip the chitchat and get down to the nitty-gritty. 1
  • adjective nitty-gritty fundamental, detailed, or probing: nitty-gritty questions. 1
  • adjective nitty-gritty direct and practical: nitty-gritty advice; a nitty-gritty system. 1
  • singular noun nitty-gritty If people get down to the nitty-gritty of a matter, situation, or activity, they discuss the most important, basic parts of it or facts about it. 0
  • noun nitty-gritty the actual, basic facts, elements, issues, etc. 0

Information block about the term

Origin of nitty-gritty

First appearance:

before 1960
One of the 3% newest English words
An Americanism dating back to 1960-65; rhyming compound of uncertain origin

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Nitty-gritty

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

nitty-gritty popularity

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 7% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.
According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

Synonyms for nitty-gritty

noun nitty-gritty

  • abc — The ABC of a subject or activity is the parts of it that you have to learn first because they are the most important and basic.
  • abc's — The ABC's of a subject or activity are the parts of it that you have to learn first because they are the most important and basic.
  • basics — The basics of something are its simplest, most important elements, ideas, or principles, in contrast to more complicated or detailed ones.
  • bottom line — The bottom line in a decision or situation is the most important factor that you have to consider.
  • brass tacks — basic realities; hard facts (esp in the phrase get down to brass tacks)

adj nitty-gritty

  • life-or-death — life-and-death.
  • meat-and-potatoes — fundamental; down-to-earth; basic: What are the meat-and-potatoes issues of the election?
  • vital — of or relating to life: vital processes.
  • namer — a word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known.

adjective nitty-gritty

  • nubber — (baseball) A batted ball that travels slowly and not very far, typically because the ball is hit on the end of the fat part of the bat.

See also

Matching words

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