| Nub |
| Crux |
| Core |
| Meat |
| Pith |
| Heart |
| Point |
| Drift |
| Sense |
| Kernel |
| Thrust |
| Purport |
| Essence |
| Summary |
| Meaning |
| Main part |
| Substance |
| Key point |
| Main idea |
| Main point |
| Very heart |
| Basic idea |
| Basic point |
| Key element |
| Nitty-gritty |
| Central idea |
| General idea |
| Core meaning |
| Crux or core |
| Main message |
| Main element |
| Main meaning |
| Basic concept |
| Central point |
| Basic meaning |
| Basic picture |
| Main takeaway |
| Central theme |
| Nuts and bolts |
| Essential part |
| Heart and soul |
| Principal part |
| Essential point |
| The main point. |
| General picture |
| Central meaning |
| General meaning |
| Purposeful drift |
| Essential meaning |
| Meat, so to speak |
| Essence of matter |
| Crux of the matter |
| Heart of the matter |
| Kernel of a concept |
| Pith of the matter. |
| Most important point |
| Central significance |
| Long and short of it |
| Main point of an idea |
| The heart of the matter |
| The essence of a matter. |
| Main point of a question. |
| Central part of an argument |
| Most vital part of some idea |
| Meat and potatoes, so to speak |
| You'll get it from CliffsNotes |
| Get the ___ of (basically understand) |
| Get the ___ of it (understand the basics) |
| Essence ... and, read differently, a hint to six puzzle answers |