bold as brass


having a lot of confidence

TRANSLATION

bold as brass = selbstbewusst; rotzfrech, frech wie Oskar brass (metal) = Messing

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

---
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.

---
SYNONYMS

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

---
START A CONVERSATION WITH OWAD TODAY

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

---
Thanks to Manu for suggesting today's word

More Word Quizzes:

whinge

6 years ago

to complain

Congrats Your Answer is Correct.

to celebrate

SORRY,
please try again...

to sleep

SORRY,
please try again...

Scoxit

6 years ago

Scotland leaving the European Union and staying within the U.K.

SORRY,
please try again...

Scots leaving the U.K. to live in Europe

SORRY,
please try again...

Scotland leaving the U.K. and staying within the European Union

Congrats Your Answer is Correct.

Juneteenth

6 years ago

Any day in June

SORRY,
please try again...

A teenager with a birthday in June

SORRY,
please try again...

An American public holiday on June 19th

Congrats Your Answer is Correct.

he can go whistle

6 years ago

he can go to hell, I don't ever want to see him again

SORRY,
please try again...

he can tell that story to whoever he likes, I don't care

SORRY,
please try again...

he can do whatever he likes, he won't get what he's asking for

Congrats Your Answer is Correct.

chocolate orange

6 years ago

a coalition made up of two political parties

SORRY,
please try again...

a chocolate sweet tasting like orange

Congrats Your Answer is Correct.

the girl scout uniform

SORRY,
please try again...

Copyright © 2000-2023 PSA - All Rights Reserved