meat and potatoes

• Expression informelle désignant la partie la plus essentielle, substantielle ou fondamentale de quelque chose, souvent utilisée pour évoquer les aspects simples, pratiques ou clés d'un sujet ou d'un repas.

An informal expression referring to the most basic, essential, or fundamental part of something, often used to describe simple, practical, or core aspects of a subject or meal.

1. The most important partB2informalamerican

   The essential or fundamental part of something.

   l'essentiel

   • The meat and potatoes of the report are the financial figures.
   • We need to focus on the meat and potatoes of the problem.
   • The meat and potatoes of his speech was about economic reform.

2. Basic or simpleB2informalamerican

   Describing something that is basic, simple, and straightforward.

   basique et simple

   • He prefers meat and potatoes cooking, nothing fancy.
   • Their style is very meat and potatoes, no frills.
   • She likes meat and potatoes kind of movies.