English Idioms

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Get down to brass tacks

Meaning

The idiom "get down to brass tacks" means to get straight to the point, to cut through all the small talk or irrelevant details and focus on the most important matter at hand. It's like getting to the very bottom of something, to its core or essence.

Usage

Here are five examples of using the idiom "get down to brass tacks":

  • "Let's get down to brass tacks and discuss the budget." (suggesting they focus on the important financial matters)
  • "I don't have time for small talk, I need to get down to brass tacks." (implying that they want to skip over unimportant details)
  • "The CEO always gets straight to brass tacks during meetings." (suggesting that the CEO is direct and to the point)
  • "We need to get down to brass tacks if we want to solve this problem." (implying that they need to focus on the root cause of the issue)
  • "I don't like beating around the bush, I prefer to get down to brass tacks and say it as it is." (suggesting that they prefer direct communication)

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom is not entirely clear, but there are several theories. One theory suggests that it comes from the Old English phrase "brasse-tacce," which meant "a copper penny," or a small amount of money. Another theory links it to the practice of weighing objects on brass scales, where getting down to the smallest details was necessary to get an accurate measurement. Over time, the idiom's meaning has evolved slightly to include not just financial matters but any important issues that need to be addressed directly. It has also become more commonly used in contemporary language.

Synonyms in English

  • Cut straight to the chase
  • Get to the point quickly
  • Skip over small talk
  • Get right to it
  • Get to the heart of the matter

Synonyms in other languages

  • In Spanish: "Hacerle falta la palabra" (to lack a word, meaning to get straight to the point)
  • In French: "Courir la plume sur les choses" (to run over things quickly, meaning to skip over small talk)
  • In Italian: "Andare subito al fondo" (to go straight to the bottom, meaning to focus on the important matters)
  • In German: "Zu kommen und das zu tun, was ein Mal gegeben werden muß" (to come and do what must be done, meaning to focus on the essentials)
  • In Chinese: "直接到点" (zhide dao diàn) (to go straight to the point)

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