Hedgehog Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 The Expression: "Brass up" This has become kind of a favourite with me recently. (A certain Lt Col in the 1st RAAC has introduced me to this phrase. ) Anyone know whereabouts in the Commonwealth this originated from? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicatt Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I really don't think it is apropriate....they don't use brass any longer it's mainly bag charges... so would it be more apropriate to say Handbags at dawn?:debile2: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grenny Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I really don't think it is apropriate....they don't use brass any longer it's mainly bag charges... so would it be more apropriate to say Handbags at dawn?:debile2:brass might be refering to the alloy the makes the mantle of most (small arms) rounds... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicatt Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Yes. "handbags" is a colloquial term for a not so serious fight between two people that don't really know how to fight 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eisenschwein Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 brass might be refering to the alloy the makes the mantle of most (small arms) rounds...If I remember right, it´s the first Commando in a Cavalry Attack... ??Trumpeter Brass up, Colors to the Front.......Have I read somewhere... don´t know ?! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_C Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 "Brass up" is a squaddie colloquialism that I've heard/used for 20 odd years and remains a solid favourite.Probably stems from the amount of empty cases (referred to as 'brass') that you will be surrounded by after a firefight. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I'm sure I remember Ken Tout using the expression in his book TANK, so that would give it at least a WW2 timeframe, and I think he was refering to using the coax. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I too use the word Brass allot.but in a different context.I haven't got any Brass. I'm not made off it. get a Job When i was your age i earned my own Brass.And i have never served in any army.LoL. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonywjones44 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 And 'The brass' are surely senior officers. But that can't be it. Firing Lt Cols at the enemy isn't going to anything other than annoy them. But come to think of it, that's not such a bad idea. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibsonm Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Well its better than "take out" which is a social interaction, not a "task verb". 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonywjones44 Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I too use the word Brass allot.but in a different context.I haven't got any Brass. I'm not made off it. get a Job When i was your age i earned my own Brass.And i have never served in any army.LoL.And... (adopting that generic rural accent that all soft southerners use when attempting to mimic anything from Devon to The Borders) - Aye, lad. Where's there's muck, there's brass. (Short 'a' as in cat, btw). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 brass might be refering to the alloy the makes the mantle of most (small arms) rounds...Yeah I'm thinking this is the most likely. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKM Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 "To brass up"; to discover the cyclic rate of a machinegun, put nicely.Related: "To give ['im some f*cking] pedal"; to fire the coaxial of the FV510 at some muppet with an RPG-7 trying to kill you and your mates. Apparently the Warrior has a pedal for the coax, thus the phrase. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Well if the metallurgical sense of the phrase is applied to Army Air Corp Attack helicopters it would be a case of"Steel 'im up"or"Aluminium 'im up" (Alloy 'im up?)Doesn't sound the same does it? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicatt Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 "Brass" a term of endearment for a lady of negotiable virtue 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AKM Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 "Brass" a term of endearment for a lady of negotiable virtue Never heard that one before. Ah slang, you funny thing. From Empire: Total War's description of character entourages, related to ladies of negotiable virtue:"Some ladies are not very ladylike which is why this lady leads a very comfortable life." 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickMow Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 I was most definitely taught to "Brass up" a target in 1983, along with "malleting" and at the time the Parachute Regiment specific "Banjoing" a position. Full metal Jacket (the film) popularity among the ranks brought "Get some" as a popular shout too 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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