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meat-and-potatoes 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmēt-ən(d)-pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tōz How to pronounce meat-and-potatoes (audio)
Definition of meat-and-potatoesnext
as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject a meat-and-potatoes knowledge of figure skating is all that a spectator really needs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

meat and potatoes

2 of 2

plural noun

as in root
the central part or aspect of something under consideration an article that never gets into the meat and potatoes of a solution to the city's rising crime rate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of meat-and-potatoes
Adjective
Some want a big old meat-and-potatoes meal, some dream of a sushi omakase extravaganza. — ABC News, 17 June 2026 That’s not a bad dramatic backdrop for a documentary, and when Soderbergh sticks to the classic meat-and-potatoes of doc construction—voiceover and archival material—The Last Interview is fine. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 May 2026
Plural noun
The premise that Valerie must keep that AI secret from the rest of her cast, and from the industry as a whole, gives this season a solid comedic game and allows for the kind of misunderstandings and humiliations that are the meat and potatoes of classic situation comedy. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 Viewed as a playmaker in the middle of the park, Boudri is expected to add flair and creativity to a midfield group that was more meat and potatoes in 2025. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meat-and-potatoes
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meat-and-potatoes
  1. basic
  2. elementary
  3. introductory
  4. rudimentary
  5. fundamental
Adjective
  • That’s one of the basic rules outlined in the New York Times Crossword submission guidelines and a convention followed by just about every major crossword outlet.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Residents are dealing with rising costs while still asking for basic improvements to roads, lighting, flooding and traffic safety.
    — Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of basic
Adjective
  • Allow me, before dealing with twentieth-century science, to dwell upon one more elementary fact.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026
  • And, in New York City, the nation’s largest school district recently rolled out a new policy restricting screen time for elementary and middle school students, along with the use of artificial intelligence.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of elementary
Adjective
  • New data presented at the UC Board of Regents meeting Wednesday shows that more first-year students are failing introductory math courses now than six years ago when the university moved to a test-blind admissions process.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Together, the introductory courses make up about 5% of the classes freshmen take, ranging from 2% at UC Irvine to 12% at UC Merced.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of introductory
Adjective
  • People in New York City looked up in shock and dismay; people everywhere else watched their favorite anchors on old-fashioned television sets and looked for updates on very rudimentary versions of news websites.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Within these confines the main characters register as aliens; Wendy and Jack aren’t just flustered but people who seem to have never been inculcated with a rudimentary sense of social propriety.
    — Vadim Rizov, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of rudimentary
Adjective
  • Other research points to fundamental flaws of SAT and ACT testing, including that students from higher-income families tend to have higher SAT scores.
    — Beth Kania-Gosche, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The drilling partnership therefore addresses a fundamental part of the deployment model.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of fundamental

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meat-and-potatoes
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Cite this Entry

“Meat-and-potatoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meat-and-potatoes. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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