0 the simplest and most important facts, ideas, or things connected with something: --
1 the central and most important principles of something: --
2 things that people need to learn, know, or do before they can achieve something: --
3 things that people need in order to be able to live comfortably, work effectively, etc.: --
4 to spend time and effort doing the simplest but most important things, especially after an unsuccessful period of time spent doing things that are more complicated but less important: --
We need to get back to basics and start delivering on promises to customers.
We need—to coin a phrase—to go back to basics.
There is indeed a need to get "back to basics".
We believe that every school should be inspected on the basis of common criteria which cover the basics of the provision within that school.
There are other incidents quite as disturbing in their danger to the basics that we have gradually put together over so long a period.
I wonder whether it is possible to co-ordinate them to ensure that the basics of school sport are put higher up the agenda.
As such, it is important that we monitor it, evaluate it and get the basics right.
We are trying to emphasise to nurses, who are better trained than ever in many matters, that the basics are important.
In other words— my son had never been taught the basics.
