VOA慢速英语2011.05.23(2)
[audio]http://sound.yywz123.com/tingbbs/voa/voa20110522.mp3[/audio]Our expression today is "getting down to brass tacks." (1)________________________________ For example, a man may say, " I want to work for you. But how much will you pay me?" He is getting down to brass tacks. Or a woman may ask, "You say you love me. Will you marry me?" She, too, is getting down to brass tacks.
今天我们要谈到的表达是“getting down to brass tacks（直切正题）”。例如，一个男人可能会说，“我想为你工作，但你能给我开多少薪水？”他直接切入了正题。或者一个女人可能会问，“你说爱我，那你会娶我吗？”她也直接切入了正题。
How did this expression get started? There are several ideas.
这种表达是怎么开始的呢？对此有几种不同观点。
At one time most women made their own clothes, buying the cloth in small stores. The material was kept in large rolls.And the storekeeper cut off as much as a woman wanted. Brass tacks along his work table helped him measure the exact amount.
曾经有段时间，大部分女人都在小店里买布料自己做衣服。布料都卷成一大捆，店老板剪下女人们想要的布料长度。沿着工作台上的一溜铜钉可以帮助店主测量布料的准确长度。
Sometimes a busy storekeeper might try to guess how much material to cut off. (2)_______________________ He could get an exact measure only by laying the material down along the brass tacks.
有时，忙碌的店主会尝试估计要剪下的布料长度。他只能通过铜钉测量才能得到一个准确长度。
**** Hidden Message ***** (1)it means to get serious about something,to get to the bottom of the situation.
(2)but this would not be cracked. 1）It means to get serious about something to get to the bottom of the situation
2）But this would not be correct
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