brass

*bold as brass

very bold; bold to the point of rudeness. (*Also: as ~.) Lisa marched into the manager's office, bold as brass, and demanded her money back. The tiny kitten, as bold as brass, began eating the dog's food right under the dog's nose.

See also: bold

brass someone off

Sl. to make someone angry. (Primarily military. As angry as the "brass," or officers, might get about something.) You really brass me off. The private brassed off the sergeant.

get down to brass tacks

Fig. to begin to talk about important things; to get down to business. Let's get down to brass tacks. We've wasted too much time chatting. Don't you think that it's about time to get down to brass tacks?

See also: get, tack

top brass

the highest leader(s); the boss(es). (Originally military.) The top brass turned thumbs down on the proposal. You'll have to check it out with the top brass. She'll be home around five.

See also: top

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as bold as brass

with too much confidence He walked up to me bold as brass and asked if I had any spare change.

See also: bold

brass monkey weather  (British very informal)

extremely cold weather It's brass monkey weather today, isn't it! (British very informal!)

See also: monkey, weather

get down to brass tacks

to start talking about the most important or basic facts of a situation

Usage notes: Brass tacks is Cockney rhyming slang (= an informal kind of language said to be used in parts of London) for facts.

Let's get down to brass tacks. Who's paying for all of this?

See also: get, tack

have the brass (neck) to do something   (British informal) also have the brass (balls) to do something (American & Australian very informal!)

to have the confidence to do something that is rude or shows a lack of respect, without caring whether people approve How does she have the brass to ask for a day off during our busiest period? He had the brass balls to announce his engagement to Sally in front of his ex-wife.

See also: have

the brass ring  (American)

success or a reward that you try to achieve, often by competing against other people Our aim is to have the best team in the league - the brass ring is there guys, go and get it.

See with knobs on

See also: ring

the top brass

the people with the highest rank in an organization, especially an army All the top brass turned out for the funeral.

See also: top

Where there's muck, there's brass.  (British)

something that you say which means you can make a lot of money from work that most people do not want to do because they think it is dirty or unpleasant Decorating's a messy job, but where there's muck, there's brass.

See treat like muck

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get down to brass tacks

to start talking about the basic facts of a situation Let's get down to brass tacks - who's going to pay for all of this?

See also: get, tack