bold as brass

having a lot of confidence

STATISTICS

IN THE PRESS

BOLD AS BRASS, the thieves entered Graffs Jewellery Salon in New Bond Street, London. In just three minutes they broke into two cabinets, bundled £23m worth of jewels into a bag, and fled. Although arrested a few weeks later, most of the jewels were never recovered.

The Daily Telegraph

Did you
know?

bold as brass
idiom

- with extreme confidence or without the respect or politeness people usually show:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org

- In a brash, arrogant, or pushy manner.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com

- describing someone who is not afraid at all, or exudes extreme confidence

Merriam-Webster

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ETYMOLOGY

There are two theories regarding the origin of this phrase:

(1) Referring to the Lord Mayor of London in the 1770s, Brass Crosby. He boldly challenged the authorities by supporting the printing of a pamphlet regarding the proceedings of Parliament.

(2) Brass is a shiny, hard metal that has often been thought cheap and vulgar, a debased or pretentious rival to gold.

No one knows for sure. Maybe there's truth in both.

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SYNONYMS

Shameless, audacious, impudent. bold, cheeky, cocksure, impertinent, intrepid, lippy, mouthy, presumptuous

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START A CONVERSATION WITH OWAD TODAY

"There's an interesting theory that 'bold as brass' is connected to the metal brass"

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Thanks to Manu for suggesting today's word

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