The phrase "brass tacks" first started appearing in print in the early 20th century. The September 5, 1907 edition of the New York Tribune contained one of the earliest known uses of the idiom, stating that a political speech "got down to brass tacks when it discussed the currency question." This and other early uses make clear the phrase was already commonly understood at this time. Cut metal we say.

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The origins of "brass tacks" prior to the early 1900s are not definitively known. Some theorize it developed from the brass tacks used in upholstery trimmings, providing a vivid metaphor for functional details. The brass tacks on brass beds may also have contributed to the phrase.

• Another possibility is that "brass tacks" came from the brass tacks on the counter of fabric shops in New England.
• When customers purchased fabric by the yard, the shop owner would measure out the length against these brass tacks embedded along the counter.
• So "brass tacks" may have referenced these tacks where actual business transactions took place.

The phrase "brass tacks" is an idiom used to refer to the real, practical facts or details of a situation, rather than theories or speculation. For example, you might say, "Let's get down to brass tacks" when it's time to focus on the concrete details of a project. The idiom suggests brass tacks are the nuts and bolts of an issue, much like the tacks holding down the brass trim or edging on upholstered furniture.

While the precise origin is uncertain, what is clear is that the phrase quickly lodged itself into the American vernacular in the early 20th century. By the 1920s and 30s "brass tacks" was appearing in mainstream publications as well as literature and fiction as an accepted colloquialism for the hard facts.

The idiom endures to this day, a testament to the intuitive vividness of its imagery. So next time a discussion needs refocusing on precise details, it may be time to "get down to brass tacks." Just where that everyday phrase comes from remains a bit tacky.