- [uncountable] a bright yellow metal made by mixing copper and zinc; objects made of brass
- solid brass fittings/door handles
- a brass plate (= a sign outside a building giving the name and profession of the person who works there)
- to clean/polish the brass
- candlesticks made of solid brass
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- gleaming
- polished
- shiny
- …
- be made from/in/of/out of
- in brass
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- [uncountable + singular or plural verb] the musical instruments made of metal, such as trumpets or French horns, that form a band or section of an orchestra; the people who play them
- music for piano, strings and brass
- The brass was/were playing at top volume.
- the brass section of the orchestra
Oxford Collocations Dictionarybrass + noun- band
- instrument
- section
- …
- [countable] (British English) a decorated piece of brass used as an attractive object, especially a round flat piece attached to a horse’s harness
- [countable] (especially British English) a flat piece of brass with words or a picture on it, fixed to the floor or wall of a church in memory of somebody who has died
- a memorial brass
- (especially North American English) (also informal top brass)[uncountable + singular or plural verb] the people who are in the most important positions in a company, an organization, etc.
- The military brass rejects/reject these claims.
- [uncountable] (British English, old-fashioned, informal) money see also brassy
metal
musical instruments
for a horse
in church
important people
money
Word OriginOld English bræs, of unknown origin.
Idioms
See brass in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary(as) bold as brass
- (informal) without showing any respect, shame or fear
- She marched in here, bold as brass, and demanded a pay rise.
More Like This Similes in idiomsSimiles in idioms- (as) bald as a coot
- (as) blind as a bat
- (as) bright as a button
- (as) bold as brass
- as busy as a bee
- as clean as a whistle
- (as) dead as a/the dodo
- (as) deaf as a post
- (as) dull as ditchwater
- (as) fit as a fiddle
- as flat as a pancake
- (as) good as gold
- (as) mad as a hatter/a March hare
- (as) miserable/ugly as sin
- as old as the hills
- (as) pleased/proud as Punch
- as pretty as a picture
- (as) regular as clockwork
- (as) quick as a flash
- (as) safe as houses
- (as) sound as a bell
- (as) steady as a rock
- (as) thick as two short planks
- (as) tough as old boots
brass monkeys | brass monkey weather
- (British English, slang) if you say that it is brass monkeys or brass monkey weather, you mean that it is very cold weather
brass neck
- (British English, informal) a combination of confidence and lack of respect
- I didn't think he would have the brass neck to do that.
the brass ring
- (North American English, informal) the opportunity to be successful; success that you have worked hard to get
- The girls' outdoor track team has grabbed the brass ring seven times.
(get down to) brass tacks
- (informal) (to start to consider) the basic facts or practical details of something
where there’s muck there’s brass
- (British English, saying) used to say that a business activity that is unpleasant or dirty can bring in a lot of money
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brass