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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Get down to brass tacks

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Start discussing the essential facts or practical details of a situation.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. After discussing ideas, we got down to brass tacks and agreed on a budget.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

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Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Start discussing the essential facts or practical details of a situation.
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Get down to brass tacks — Start discussing the essential facts or practical details of a situation.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Get down to brass tacks” about your own life.

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Start discussing the essential facts or practical details of a situation.

Compare: After discussing ideas, we got down to brass tacks and agreed on a budget.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this conversational expression to move a discussion towards concrete matters such as costs, dates or responsibilities. It can sound direct and businesslike.

More examples in context

  • Let’s get down to brass tacks: who will deliver the equipment?
  • We need to get down to brass tacks before booking anything.

Usage note

Keep the plural “tacks” in the fixed phrase. The focus is on essential practical details, rather than on speaking rudely or rushing every decision.

A short conversation

A: We have plenty of possible themes for the event.
B: Let’s get down to brass tacks. How much can we spend?
A: Our limit is six hundred pounds.

One more practice question

Which question gets down to brass tacks when planning a workshop?

A. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone loved it?”
B. “What is the budget, and who will book the room?”

Check your answer

B. Budget and booking responsibilities are concrete details needed to proceed.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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