brass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal (depending on sense)
Quick answer
What does “brass” mean?
A yellow metal made from copper and zinc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A yellow metal made from copper and zinc; also refers to musical instruments made of this metal.
High-ranking military officers or officials; impudence or boldness; money (slang).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The slang meaning 'money' is primarily British and dated. 'Brass' for military officers is more common in UK. 'Brass tacks' (essentials) is used in both but slightly more UK.
Connotations
In both: 'brass' as material is neutral; 'brass' for officers suggests authority/tradition; 'brass neck/brass' for impudence is negative. UK has additional informal/mildly vulgar connotation with 'brass' as prostitute (regional/slang).
Frequency
Material/musical instrument sense is equally frequent. Abstract senses (officials, boldness) are moderately frequent in both, with 'top brass' being the most common collocation.
Grammar
How to Use “brass” in a Sentence
made of brassbrass in/on somethingthe brass of somethingbrass for somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brass” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to brass it out and pretend nothing had happened.
- The plaque was brassed to a high shine.
American English
- He brassed up the old doorknob until it looked new.
- She's going to brass her way through the interview.
adverb
British English
- He acted brass, ignoring all the criticism.
American English
- She walked brass into the meeting, uninvited.
adjective
British English
- The brass fittings had tarnished green.
- He gave a brass-faced denial to the allegations.
American English
- A brass hinge held the old gate.
- That was a pretty brass move, asking for a raise on your first day.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in 'top brass' for senior management.
Academic
Used in materials science, musicology, and historical/social studies (e.g., 'brass bands in industrial communities').
Everyday
Common for describing objects (doorknobs, instruments), and informally for cheekiness ('He's got a brass neck!').
Technical
Specific alloy compositions (e.g., 'cartridge brass', 'naval brass') in engineering/manufacturing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brass”
- Using 'brass' to mean any yellow metal (it's specifically Cu+Zn).
- Confusing 'brass' (instruments) with the whole 'wind section' (which includes woodwinds).
- Overusing the 'money' slang in modern contexts.
- Misspelling as 'bras' (which is a different word).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin (and sometimes other elements).
It's an idiom referring to the people in the highest positions of authority in an organization, especially the military or a large company.
Yes, though it's less common. It can mean 'to face a situation with bold impudence' (brass it out) or, in UK English, 'to make something brass in colour or to plate with brass'.
It is now considered dated British slang. You might encounter it in historical contexts or older literature, but it's not common in modern everyday speech.
A yellow metal made from copper and zinc.
Brass is usually neutral to informal (depending on sense) in register.
Brass: in British English it is pronounced /brɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /bræs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get down to brass tacks”
- “brass monkey weather”
- “brass neck”
- “bold as brass”
- “where there's muck there's brass”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BRASS band playing loudly and boldly – the metal is shiny and strong, and the players need 'brass' (nerve) to perform.
Conceptual Metaphor
HARDNESS/TOUGHNESS → SOCIAL BOLDNESS (brass neck); VALUE → MONEY (dated slang); HIGH POSITION → TOP OF A HIERARCHY (top brass).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of management, 'the brass' most likely refers to: