brass

A yellow metal made by mixing copper and zinc, used for things such as handles and musical instruments.

• The handle is made of brass.
• She polished the brass until it shone.
• They fitted brass taps in the bathroom.

Common phrases: brass handle, solid brass, polished brass

Musical instruments such as trumpets and trombones, or the group of musicians playing them.

• The brass section played loudly.
• She writes music for brass and strings.
• The conductor asked the brass to play more softly.

Similar words: brass instruments

Common phrases: brass section, brass instruments, brass band, brass player

Confidence that makes someone behave rudely or do something most people would not dare to do.

• You’ve got a lot of brass!
• She had the brass to blame me for her mistake.
• It took brass to demand a refund after eating everything.

How to use it: have the brass to do something (He had the brass to ask for more money.)

Similar words: nerve, cheek, impudence, audacity

Common phrases: have the brass, a lot of brass