Why do people say brass tacks?

Sommario:

1. Why do people say brass tacks?
2. What does got down to brass tacks mean?
3. Where did the phrase brass tacks come from?
4. How do you spell brass tacks?
5. What does it mean to have an AXE to grind?
6. What does full of hot air mean?
7. What does the phrase brass tax mean?
8. What does brass it out mean?
9. What does no ax to grind mean?
10. Where does the phrase axe to grind come from?
11. What does I feel like a fish out of water mean?
12. What does penny for your thoughts mean?
13. Why is dying referred to as kicking the bucket?
14. Why do they call it cut the cheese?
15. What does brass mean in slang?
16. Is monger a bad word?
17. Who has no axe to grind?

Why do people say brass tacks?

To make measuring the fabric easier, owners would hammer brass tacks at common intervals — a yard, half-yard and quarter-yard. So after the customer picked the cloth, the clerk would say something like, “OK, I'll measure it, so let's get down to brass tacks.”

What does got down to brass tacks mean?

informal. : to start to discuss or consider the most important details or facts about something We finally got down to brass tacks and decided to work out a schedule for the project.

Where did the phrase brass tacks come from?

Earliest attestation in 1863 US, specifically Texas. One theory is that it comes from the brass tacks in the counter of a hardware store or draper's shop used to measure cloth in precise units (rather than holding one end to the nose and stretching out the arm to approximately one yard).

How do you spell brass tacks?

noun Informal. the most fundamental considerations; essentials; realities (usually used in the phrase get down to brass tacks).

What does it mean to have an AXE to grind?

phrase. If someone has an axe to grind, they are doing something for selfish reasons. [informal, disapproval]

What does full of hot air mean?

Filters. (idiomatic) Talking a lot, especially without saying anything of value or meaning. Did the salesman tell you anything new, or was he just full of hot air?

What does the phrase brass tax mean?

get down to brass : details of immediate practical importance —usually used in the phrase get down to brass tacks.

What does brass it out mean?

: to continue in a confident way without showing shame or embarrassment Despite the bad publicity, the candidate decided to brazen it out and stay in the race.

What does no ax to grind mean?

to have a strong personal opinion about something that you want people to accept and that is the reason why you do something: Environmentalists have no political axe to grind - they just want to save the planet.

Where does the phrase axe to grind come from?

The phrase probably originates from the act of sharpening an axe with a grinding wheel, with the intent (in this definition) to get revenge on someone by maiming or killing them. ;) "Five years ago that guy stole my idea for an invention and made tons of money off it! I've had an axe to grind with him ever since.

What does I feel like a fish out of water mean?

A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [ Late 1300s]

What does penny for your thoughts mean?

Definition of (a) penny for your thoughts —used to ask what someone is thinking about "A penny for your thoughts?" "Oh, I'm just thinking about what I want to do over the weekend."

Why is dying referred to as kicking the bucket?

The "bucket" may refer to the beam on which slaughtered pigs are suspended. The animals may struggle on the bucket, hence the expression. ... Alternatively, in the moment of death a person stretches his legs (Spanish: Estirar la pata means "to die") and so might kick the bucket placed there.

Why do they call it cut the cheese?

Origin of cut-the-cheese This idiom references the foul smell emitted by some cheeses many of which have a rind that keep the odor in. Once the rind is pierced, as in the case of slicing it, the not so pleasant smell is released.

What does brass mean in slang?

(slang) Bad, annoying; as wordplay applied especially to brass instruments.

Is monger a bad word?

The term traces to a Latin noun meaning "trader." Initially, it was an honorable term, but every profession has its bad apples, and the snake-oil salesmen of the bunch gave "monger" a bad reputation. By the middle of the 16th century, the term often implied that a merchant was dishonorable and contemptible.

Who has no axe to grind?

to have a strong personal opinion about something that you want people to accept and that is the reason why you do something: Environmentalists have no political axe to grind - they just want to save the planet.