Mr. Chambers: The annual shareholders meeting is next week.  We have to talk about our presentation.

Mr. Campbell: I think the people at the meeting will want to know how the company is financially.

Mr. Chambers:  Yes I agree.  We need to get down to brass tacks.

Mr. Campbell: Alright lets present our financial figures and numbers.  We'll go back to the basics and explain our plan for the future.

Mr Chambers: Sounds good.  Let's work on our PowerPoint.

Learn how to use the business expression "Get down to brass tacks."

This expression has other similar idioms as well.  "Get down to the nitty gritty" and "Get down to the bedrock."  These three expressions all mean the same thing. The history of the expression however, is mixed.

According to wikipedia.org brass tacks were used by carpenters installing carpet or doing upholstery on a chair or couch.  They were also used by sales people measuring fabric for a customer.  Brass tacks are mainly used and referred to in manufacturing fabric.  It was a large part of that industry.

Brass tacks were also used on the bottom of soldiers' boots.  Brass tacks attached the leather sole of the boots.

The final possibility of brass tacks is the "Brass Tax of 1854."  This is referring to tax not tacks. This was a tax that was passed in America.  Businesses that used brass in their products had to do accounting for the brass material.  They always did this last because this was the most expensive step.

Nitty gritty means getting dirty and getting to work.  Down on the floor you get things done.   The bedrock means the same thing.  It's the very bottom of the dirt or soil in the ground.

Now for the meaning of the expression.  Getting down to the nitty gritty, bedrock, or brass tacks means to clear things up and get down to the bottom.  When things are confusing you make it simple and easy.  Get down to the basics.  Don't confuse things with extra information or facts.  Get rid of all unnecessary things.  You only work with the things you need.

So in the conversation above they will get down to brass tacks. They have a presentation to give and they plan to keep it simple.  They will talk about financial numbers and what their plan is for the future.

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