meat and potatoes
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - The most basic, important, or fundamental part of something; the essential or practical substance. This phrase refers to the core, substantive elements, often implying a straightforward, no-frills approach.
Usage
This noun phrase is typically used with a singular verb. It describes the primary, substantial, or most important aspects of a subject, activity, or thing, often contrasting with peripheral or secondary details.
Examples
- For the new manager, clear communication is the meat and potatoes of effective leadership.
- The meat and potatoes of the software update is its improved security, not the new interface colors.
- In his lecture, the professor quickly moved past the introduction to the meat and potatoes of the theory.
Advanced Usage
- Used attributively (as a compound modifier before another noun) to describe something that is basic, fundamental, or appeals to mainstream tastes.
- He writes meat-and-potatoes articles about economic policy.
- The restaurant is known for its meat-and-potatoes cuisine, like steak and roasted chicken.
Variants and Related Words
- Bread and butter: (idiom, noun) A similar idiom meaning one's main source of income or most reliable, fundamental activity.
- Teaching is his bread and butter.
- Core: (noun) The central or most important part.
- Essence: (noun) The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something.
- Fundamentals: (noun) The central or primary rules or principles.
Synonyms
- Gist, heart, substance, nuts and bolts, main part.
Antonyms
- Periphery, frills, extras, trimmings, superficialities.
Related Idioms
- The nitty-gritty: (idiom, noun) The most important aspects or practical details of a matter.
- Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of the contract.
- Cut to the chase: (idiom, verb phrase) To get to the point without wasting time on unimportant details.
- Stop giving background and cut to the chase.
Noun
- the fundamental part
- successful negotiation is the meat and potatoes of arbitration