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Region: US | Usage example: Let's get down to brass tacks and settle the budget.

Get down to brass tacks

Meaning

Focus on the essential facts or details.

Usage

Used to move conversations toward practical issues.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Possibly from upholsterers using brass tacks to measure work.

Recorded in American sources from the early 1900s.