Phrase guide

nuts and bolts

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The basic inner workings of something; the fundamentals; that which makes something operate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, plural, plural-only

Examples

  • It's really not so hard, once you know the nuts and bolts of the editing process.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

detailed practical information about how something works or how something can be accomplished

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: information, info

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: rudiments — inner workings of something
  • German: A und O — inner workings of something
  • Italian: i dettagli — inner workings of something
  • Russian: азы́ (azý) — inner workings of something