1.
[syn: kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
nitty-gritty
n 1: the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some
idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's
argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party";
"the nub of the story" [syn: kernel, substance, core,
center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and
soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith,
sum, nitty-gritty]