"basic facts of a situation or problem," by 1961, knitty-gritty, American English, said to have been chiefly used by black jazz musicians, perhaps ultimately from nit and grits "finely ground corn." As an adjective from 1966.
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Definitions of nitty-gritty from WordNet
nitty-gritty (n.)
the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;