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Most likely, it is simply a humorous alliteration or possibly a short-hand reference to the "brass monkey" phrase. Snopes (see link) has something to say about brass monkey if you'd care to look.
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Where does the phrase second hand come from?
Previously owned Or sweep hand on a clock
Where did the phrase don't break my balls originate?
Andy Maio invent this phrase in the early 70s
Freeze the balls of a brass monkey?
The expression comes from the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships carried iron cannons, those cannons fired round iron cannon balls, it was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but to prevent them from rolling about the deck, the best storage method was to make a square-based pyramid with sixteen balls at the bottom building up to one at the top. But the problem was how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. So they devised a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations. The plate was made of iron so the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting was to make "Brass Monkeys", but brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when cold. So when the temperature dropped too much, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the cannonballs would come right off the monkey. So this is were the quote, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" comes from!
Where did the phrase 'love you' love you not' come from?
Picking flowers, do you love them or not, it NOT a phrase!
What does come to papa mean as a phrase?
come to me. lets emabrase
Where does the phrase second hand come from?
Previously owned Or sweep hand on a clock
do these faucets come in brass?
do these faucets come in brass
What is the origin of cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey?
In the old days when ships had cannons on board, the cannon balls would be kept on a brass plate with indentations in it to rest the lead cannon balls in. They would be then piled up in a pyramid on this plate, the plate was called a brass monkey. When it got really cold the plate would contract at a different rate to the balls and they would fall off. Hence the phrase - "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". The above appears to be an erroneous answer. These links should help: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cold%20enough%20to%20freeze%20the%20balls%20off%20a%20brass%20monkey.html http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/brass.asp
What did the cannon balls set on aboard ship?
brass monkey
What family does the baritone come from?
Brass, specifically Low Brass.
What is 'brass balls' when translated from English to Italian?
Palle di ferro
Where did the phrase don't break my balls originate?
Andy Maio invent this phrase in the early 70s
Where did the phrase brass monkeys come from?
As far as I know in the days of sailing ships with muzzle loadibg guns the Navy had a set of brass plates next to each cannon. This indicated the proper place to pile the cannonballs ready for use in action. The plates were nicknamed the "monkeys paw"
Freeze the balls of a brass monkey?
The expression comes from the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships carried iron cannons, those cannons fired round iron cannon balls, it was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but to prevent them from rolling about the deck, the best storage method was to make a square-based pyramid with sixteen balls at the bottom building up to one at the top. But the problem was how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. So they devised a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations. The plate was made of iron so the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting was to make "Brass Monkeys", but brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when cold. So when the temperature dropped too much, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the cannonballs would come right off the monkey. So this is were the quote, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" comes from!
Were there gold cannonballs?
No. Never heard of such. Gold and Lead have a lot of the same metal properties so it could work. They both have about same density. It would be very expensive ammunition. I don't think there were Brass cannon balls either. The guns were made of brass but not the balls.
Which orchestral family does the trombone come from?
Brass
What instrumental family does the trumpit come from?
Brass.
