as in ropes
the specific practical details of something
after the usual introductions and requisite pleasantries, we got down to the brass tacks of our business proposal
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Recent Examples of brass tacks
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.
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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
Once the idea is taking shape, in comes the brass tacks of the operation: sketches, colors, fabrics, measurements, fittings.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
The trade that brought Butler to San Francisco also forced Kerr, his staff, and the Warriors roster to get down to brass tacks.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brass tacks
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
Once the idea is taking shape, in comes the brass tacks of the operation: sketches, colors, fabrics, measurements, fittings.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
The trade that brought Butler to San Francisco also forced Kerr, his staff, and the Warriors roster to get down to brass tacks.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for brass tacks
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brass tacks
nuts and bolts
Plural Noun
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Advertisement Moreover, of all the necessary nuts and bolts to a security partnership, institutions may be the most vital.—
Bilal Y. Saab,
Time,
22 Nov. 2025
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This freed up more of the budget for creative aspects versus nuts and bolts.—
Collier Sutter,
Architectural Digest,
17 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brass tacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brass%20tacks. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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