广播电视英语短句 第 152 课：财大气粗-6

You get down to brass tacks when you say, "it sounds good, but how much does it cost?" 当你说“听起来不错，多少钱？”这句话时，你就道出了问题的实质。

Word expert Charles Funk thinks the expression comes from sailors on ships. 词语专家 Charles Funk 认为，这个表达源于航海水手。

They clean the bottom of a boat. 他们打扫船底卫生。

When they have removed all the dirt, they are down to the brass tacks, the copper pieces that hold the boat together. 当他们除去污垢后，来到了船下面的“铜钉”（实质之处）——固定船舷的铜色钉子之处。

So, if we get down to brass tacks, we can prevent rip offs and bogus ways of earning money in that jungle out there. And, some good luck will help, too. 所以，如果我们讨论问题的实质，我们就可以防止“商界丛林”中的敲诈行为和和骗钱手段。而且，也会有好运相助。