# nuts and bolts

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/nuts-and-bolts
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- We need to learn the nuts and bolts of this machine.
- The manager explained the nuts and bolts of the new project to the entire team during the meeting.
- Before attempting to reform the entire organization, the consultant spent weeks studying the nuts and bolts of its daily operations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.