nuts and bolts

noun

1
: the working parts or elements
2
: the practical workings of a machine or enterprise as opposed to theoretical considerations or speculative possibilities
nuts-and-bolts adjective

Examples of nuts and bolts in a Sentence

the nuts and bolts of the merger of the two companies have yet to be worked out
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Planners are tasked with improving the lives of city dwellers, which requires a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses not only the nuts and bolts of making land use decisions, but also social sciences, ethics, and public health. Seydina Fall, Fortune, 2 Dec. 2024 Interviewees like Mikkel Nielsen & Xenia-Anni Nielsen were able to advise not just on details of the WoW world but also on the nuts and bolts of post-production, such as animation timing and color grading. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 20 Nov. 2024 Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Your emotions about a current health issue could be making the problem seem much bigger than its nuts and bolts justify in reality. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2024 In decades past, the building served as this rural town’s hardware store where farmers shopped for hammers, nuts and bolts. Giovanna Dell'orto, Twin Cities, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nuts and bolts 

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nuts and bolts was in 1947

Dictionary Entries Near nuts and bolts

Cite this Entry

“Nuts and bolts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuts%20and%20bolts. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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