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.
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 The case itself plays out with some dramatic twists and turns and with more of an emphasis on the legal nuts and bolts than usual. Noel Murray, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024 Her resourceful approach extended to the nuts and bolts of touring. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 23 Oct. 2024 This article covers the film’s conception and its release, and another will delve into the nuts and bolts of the production itself. Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 14 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 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!