nitty-gritty, the

Slang definitions & phrases for nitty-gritty, the

nitty-gritty, the

adjective phrase

: a lot of nittygritty campaigning as well

noun phrase
  1. The most asi elements, esp when unwelcome or unpleasant; harsh realities: from what they call the nitty gritty and the grass roots/ the awesome and awful nitty gritty of today's urban condition/ and shifting from ideology to the nitty (1960s+ Black)
  2. Practical details

[fr the repellent association of nits, ''the eggs of hair lice, young hair lice,'' and grit, ''abrasive granules'']