brass
/brɑ:s/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A yellow alloy of copper and zinc: A metal made by combining copper and zinc, known for its durability and acoustic properties.
- The section of a band or orchestra that plays brass instruments: The group of musicians who play instruments like trumpets, trombones, and tubas.
- Impudent aggressiveness; boldness or nerve: Shameless confidence or rude boldness in behavior.
- Memorials or ornaments made of brass: Objects, such as plaques or decorative items, crafted from this metal.
- High-ranking officials or administration (often "the brass"): The people in charge of an organization, especially in military or corporate contexts.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Alloy):
- The doorknob was made of polished brass.
- Brass is commonly used for musical instruments and plumbing fixtures.
- Noun (Orchestra Section):
- The brass section played a powerful fanfare.
- Noun (Boldness):
- She had the brass to ask for a promotion on her first day.
- Noun (Administration):
- The decision was made by the top brass at headquarters.
Advanced Usage
- "To get down to brass tacks": To start discussing the most important, practical details of a matter.
- Let's stop chatting and get down to brass tacks: what's the budget?
- "Brass farthing": A very small or worthless amount (often used in negative constructions).
- His opinion isn't worth a brass farthing to me.
Variants and Related Words
- Brassy (adj): Resembling brass in color or sound; also meaning bold and loud in an unpleasant way.
- She had a brassy laugh.
- The curtains were a brassy yellow.
- Brassware (n): Articles made of brass.
- The shop sold antique brassware.
Synonyms
- Alloy/Metal: Bronze (note: bronze is copper and tin).
- Boldness: Nerve, gall, audacity, effrontery.
- Administration: Management, executives, leadership.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
- "To brass someone off" (British slang, informal): To annoy or irritate someone greatly.
- His constant complaining really brassed me off.
Related Idioms
- "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" (Vulgar slang): An expression meaning extremely cold weather.
- "As bold as brass": Behaving with extreme confidence and without shame.
- He walked in late, as bold as brass, and took the last seat.
Noun
- a memorial made of brass
- the section of a band or orchestra that plays brass instruments
- an ornament or utensil made of brass
- impudent aggressiveness
- I couldn't believe her boldness
- he had the effrontery to question my honesty
- the persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something
- he claims that the present administration is corrupt
- the governance of an association is responsible to its members
- he quickly became recognized as a member of the establishment
- a wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) that is blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece
- an alloy of copper and zinc