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This expression means to get to the bottom or most important part of something. For example, a salesman may talk and talk about his product without saying the price. You get down to brass tacks when you say, "it sounds good, but how much does it cost?"
这个短语（get down to brass tacks）的意思是，触及事物的底部或最重要的部分。比如，一个推销员可能拿着产品侃侃而谈却迟迟不提价格。你直击重点：“听着不错，但是它的价格是多少呢？”
Word expert Charles Funk thinks the expression comes from sailors on ships. They clean the bottom of a boat. When they have removed all the dirt, they are down to the brass tacks, the copper pieces that hold the boat together.
词汇专家Charles Funk认为，这个短语来自轮船上的水手，他们会清洗船底。当他们清理完所有污垢后，他们就能触及将船连接到一起的铜件——黄铜钉。
So, if we get down to brass tacks, we can prevent ripoffs and bogus ways of earning money in that jungle out there. And, some good luck will help, too.
所以，如果务实，我们就能防止商场这片丛林中的各类欺诈或骗钱手段。当然，好运气也会有所帮助。
