nuts and bolts, the



nuts and bolts, the

The essential or basic aspects of something, as in They have lofty goals but don't specify the nuts and bolts of how to achieve them. This expression alludes to basic working components of machinery. [Mid-1900s]
See also: and, nuts

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Martynamahr-TI-nahPolish
ThorbenTAWR-ben (German)Danish, German
Euphrasia-Ancient Greek
Djuro-Serbian
IlmaEEL-mahFinnish
AristotleAR-ə-stah-təl (English), ER-ə-stah-təl (English)Ancient Greek (Anglicized)