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

ˈnəts-ən(d)-ˈbōlts 

adjective

Synonyms of nuts and bolts

• ropes
• brass tacks

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

Sachs emphasizes, from the start of the movie, its artifice, exposing the nuts and bolts of its creation; the action begins with a view of the slate used to mark the scene and help synchronize the sound. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2025

Deep Blue has become one of the biggest behind-the-scenes players in the business of women’s sports, handling the nuts and bolts of bringing commercial investment to the space. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025

Deadline sat down with the duo to discuss the nuts and bolts of interactive filmmaking. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025

There will be plenty of time to break down the World Series, talk about Shohei Ohtani and all the other nuts and bolts. —Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nuts and bolts

• kilovolts
• microvolts
• millivolts
• colts
• jolts
• molts
• moults
• poults
• smolts
• volts
• revolts