warp and woof
The integral, fundamental aspects, elements, or constructs of something. Personal independence has been the warp and woof of our nation's identity since its inception. The examples set by our parents form the warp and woof of our lives.
warp and woof
The underlying structure or foundation of something, as in He foresaw great changes in the warp and woof of the nation's economy. This expression, used figuratively since the second half of the 1500s, alludes to the threads that run lengthwise ( warp) and crosswise ( woof) in a woven fabric.