get down to brass tacks

ɡɛt ˈdaʊn tə bɹɑːs ˈtæks

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#1·4h ago

(originally, and, chiefly, US, idiomatic) To (start to) consider or deal with the most important details or facts about something.

He did not wish to delay action, but was ready to vote instanter.—A reference now would amount to a defeat of the memorial. It was better to 'come right down to the brass''''' and vote.

Origin: The origin is . It is probably a variant of the earlier term down to the brass (see, for example, the 1854 quotation), and the following etymologies have been suggested: * The term refers to the brass tacks used in upholstery which have to be removed when a piece of furniture is reupholstered, or brass tacks stuck into the counter of a draper’s shop or hardware store to measure items precisely in yards. * Another possibility is that the brass tacks are nails used to seal coffin lids,. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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