Talk:Brass tacks

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http://www.wordorigins.org/Words/LetterB/brasstacks.html suggests several variations of the etymology of the phrase, none of which include a reference to cobbling or boots. These include cockney rhyming slang (for 'facts'), the practice of measuring out a yard with brass tacks in a fabric store, or a reference to the tacks used in foundations of upholstry. Similarly, http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=brass cites the fabric store reference. The former claims that the exact etymology is unknown, and cites the OED and two histories of slang. As this article lacks sources, I'd tend to think that indeed the original origin is unknown, and that the 'fabric store' theory would be a likely candidate. In fact, I can't find any reference anywhere that suggests the tacks in 19th century shoes had anything to do with this phrase. 24.107.177.15 07:07, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

Most of the supposed derivations cited are of the silly made-up kind. Since the phrase has always been used in Britain, an American origin is improbable. Much the likeliest derivation is from Cockney rhyming slang, "brass tacks" for "facts." This is the derivation given by Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.