The basic, fundamental skills, tasks, or roles necessary to the function of something. Used especially in business, it is a reference to American football in which blockers and tacklers have the least glamorous positions but are critically important to the team as a whole. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. You don't even know how to file a basic report? Tom, that's just simple blocking and tackling. Our accountants are the blocking and tackling of our company. They might not get the spotlight, but they make the company run smoothly.