brass up
British slang with two distinct lives.
Definitions
British slang with two distinct lives. In civilian use, to brass up means to pay what you owe — settling a debt, handing over money, or coughing up cash you'd rather keep. The phrase has the feel of reluctant obligation, as if the money is being extracted rather than freely given. In military slang it takes a harder turn, meaning to shell or bombard a position with heavy fire — specifically machine-gun or artillery fire laid down with intensity. Context determines which brass up is being delivered.
The landlord knocked twice a week until they finally agreed to brass up the three months of back rent.
Comments
(slang) To pay a debt or hand over money.
Comments
(military slang, transitive) To shell.
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Semantically related
- brass it out75%
British slang meaning to brazen something out — to face down a difficult or embarrassing situation through sheer nerve and confidence rather than honesty or apology. The 'brass' element invokes the idea of bold, hard-faced audacity. Used in informal British speech for situations requiring bluffing through trouble.
- brass off69%
(intransitive, slang, dated) To shoot someone or something.
- brass out68%
(transitive, slang, Australia) To scam or trick (someone).