brass

laiton

Métal jaune composé de cuivre et de zinc, utilisé notamment pour des poignées et des instruments de musique.

En anglais simple : 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.

Expressions courantes : brass handle, solid brass, polished brass

cuivres

Instruments comme la trompette et le trombone, ou groupe de musiciens qui en jouent.

En anglais simple : 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.

Synonymes : brass instruments

Expressions courantes : brass section, brass instruments, brass band, brass player

culot, toupet

Assurance qui pousse à agir sans gêne ou à faire ce que les autres n’oseraient pas.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : have the brass to do something (He had the brass to ask for more money.)

Synonymes : nerve, cheek, impudence, audacity

Expressions courantes : have the brass, a lot of brass