Brass tacks

[fredpuli47]

What's the origin of the expression "to get down to brass tacks" ? What's so fundamental about brass tacks?

[dr john]

'Rhyming' slang for facts

[stewey]

It could be a variation of "Let's go back to the drawing-board". The drawings showing the fundamentals of a design (years ago) were attached to a board using brassy looking drawing-pins (UK) or brassy looking tacks (US).

[Clanad]

Phrase Finder has this to say: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/get-down-to -brass-tacks.html ...

[stewey]

Interesting site, Clanad; I added it to my favorites.