adjective [ only before noun ] ( NAmE )
1.
dealing with the most basic and important aspects of sth :
a meat-and-potatoes argument
2.
liking plain, simple things :
He's a real meat-and-potatoes guy.
MEAT-AND-POTATOES
Meaning of MEAT-AND-POTATOES in English
Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне. 2005