WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
meat′ and pota′toes, [Informal.]
meat-and-po•ta•toes (mēt′n pə tā′tōz, -təz),USA pronunciation adj. [Informal.]
- Informal Termsthe essential or basic part:Community service is the meat and potatoes of this program.
-
1950–55
meat-and-po•ta•toes (mēt′n pə tā′tōz, -təz),USA pronunciation adj. [Informal.]
- Informal Termsfundamental;
down-to-earth;
basic:What are the meat-and-potatoes issues of the election?Also, meat′-and-po•ta′to.
- 1945–50
'meat and potatoes' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):