brass tacks
plural noun
: details of immediate practical importance
—usually used in the phrase get down to brass tacks
Examples of brass tacks in a Sentence
after the usual introductions and requisite pleasantries, we got down to the brass tacks of our business proposal
Recent Examples on the Web
As Canucks decision makers get down to brass tacks and hold high-level meetings with hockey operations leadership and the coaching staff this week, that’s the tenor of the discussion that now surrounds Vancouver’s 2025 first-round pick.
—
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Carefully discuss each function and brainstorm down to brass tacks.
—Kelly Starman, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Back from holiday after a month away, John Oliver wasted no time in getting down to brass tacks, spending the beginning 10 minutes of Last Week Tonight addressing Donald Trump‘s desperate attempts to redirect national conversation away from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 27 July 2025
His plays demonstrate a fierce effort to get down to brass tacks.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brass tacks
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Carefully discuss each function and brainstorm down to brass tacks.
—Kelly Starman, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Back from holiday after a month away, John Oliver wasted no time in getting down to brass tacks, spending the beginning 10 minutes of Last Week Tonight addressing Donald Trump‘s desperate attempts to redirect national conversation away from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 27 July 2025
His plays demonstrate a fierce effort to get down to brass tacks.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brass tacks
Cite this Entry
“Brass tacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brass%20tacks. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share