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heart of the matter

NOUN
nitty-gritty
Synonyms
STRONG
basics core essence focus fundamentals gist heart kernel meat quintessence reality root soul substance
WEAK
bottom line brass tacks chief part chief thing cold fact essential details essential part hard fact important matter meat and potatoes name of the game nuts and bolts the facts the name of the game
Antonyms
STRONG
exterior exteriority outside surface

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She took her time explaining the heart of the matter as she slipped her everyday bonnet from her head and substituted the flouncy, feathery one in its place.

From Literature

And then — the heart of the matter — curate a vibe.

From Salon

"We have to overlook those comments and remarks and focus on the heart of the matter which is the humanitarian crisis," he added.

From Barron's

At the heart of the matter are credit-card interchange fees, which merchants pony up when shoppers pay with plastic.

From Barron's

Her dissenting opinions cut through to the heart of the matter.

From Slate

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.