meat-and-potatoes

adjective

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Definition of meat-and-potatoes

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of fundamental importance : basic also : concerned with or emphasizing the basic aspects of something

2 : unpretentious, simple a real meat-and-potatoes guy

3 : providing or preferring simple food (such as meat and potatoes)

meat and potatoes

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

Definition of meat and potatoes (Entry 2 of 2)

: the most interesting or fundamental part : meat sense 4

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Synonyms & Antonyms for meat-and-potatoes

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

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Examples of meat-and-potatoes in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction Just meat and potatoes, the bow was born for the whitetail woods. — Jace Bauserman, Outdoor Life, "The Best New Compound Bows for 2021," 7 Jan. 2021 Pair with latkes for the ultimate meat and potatoes dinner. — Washington Post, "8 traditional and modern Hanukkah recipes, including latkes, doughnuts and more," 5 Dec. 2020 That greater mythology was the gravy, but the Winchesters were the meat and potatoes, two urban legends who stuck together on cross-country road trips and carved their own place in Americana. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, "After 'Supernatural' series finale, the Winchester brothers will carry on in our hearts," 20 Nov. 2020 For those of us lucky enough to be safe and able to work from home, November and December are bringing back TV meat and potatoes fare, along with some more gourmet items. — oregonlive, "Here’s when ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘NCIS,’ ‘Law & Order: SVU’ return, plus more TV highlights (’The Crown,’ ‘Shameless’)," 4 Nov. 2020 The Southerleigh team scrapped their original plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at Mon Chou Chou for a single all-day menu of hearty and comforting dishes such as coq a vin and steak frites — literally meat and potatoes. — Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, "Dozens of S.A. restaurants opening in 2020. Are owners insane?," 29 Oct. 2020 Trucks are the meat and potatoes of vehicle sales, and automakers have been unable to make one crazy enough to keep people from buying them. — Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, "Best Used Trucks for Under $10,000," 28 Sep. 2020 Krens’s vision soon had legs, then a skeleton, then meat and potatoes. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, "Mass MoCA, the World’s Biggest Contemporary Art Museum, Looks Fantastic," 23 Sep. 2020 To me, the powerful tune has always been the nub, the meat and potatoes of the American musical theater. — Robert D. Mcfadden, New York Times, "Jerry Herman, Composer of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and Other Broadway Hits, Dies at 88," 27 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'meat-and-potatoes.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Meat-and-potatoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meat-and-potatoes. Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.

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