the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story"
The gist of a speech, conversation, or piece of writing is its general meaning. He related the gist of his conversation to Naseby. the gist the main idea and meaning of what someone has said or written the gist of (from gesir )