part brass rags

part brass rags

Meaning:

• quarrel and break off friendship with someone
• to part with a friend by breaking friendship

Example:

1. Both of them parted off rags with each other after a misunderstanding between them due to the other person.
2. He parted brass rags with his business partner and started his own firm.
3. You must not part brass rags with due to a mere misunderstanding. Talk to him and know the whole truth.
4. “If I were to part brass rags with you I would die” he gave a sarcastic smile reading the years old letter from her.

Origin:
This expression has its explanations in The Tadpole of a Archangel a short story by W. P Drury written in the year 1898. According to the story When sailors want to prove the brotherly love to inspire one another, it is a ritual to keep their brass work cleaning cloth in a joint ragbag. But if their relations become unhealthy, the bag owner would throw away his brother's rags on the deck. As the brass rags separated bitterness creeped. The phrase has it origins from the 19th century.