ブラスバンドのブラス（"brass"）とは金属の一種、真鍮のことですが、主に金管楽器に使われている素材です。
ところで、この“brass”には、俗語の意味に、大物、高級官僚、という意味があります。
"top brass"、"big brass"などと表現されることが多いようですが、多少の蔑み（あるいは妬み！？）から、日本語で「お偉方」というのに近いようです。
OAKLAND — California Medical Association officials were among the guests seated next to Gov. Gavin Newsom at a top California political operative’s opulent birthday dinner at the French Laundry restaurant this month.
CEO Dustin Corcoran and top CMA lobbyist Janus Norman both joined the dinner at the French Laundry, an elite Napa fine dining restaurant, to celebrate the 50th birthday of lobbyist and longtime Newsom adviser Jason Kinney, a representative of the powerful interest group confirmed Wednesday morning.
（中略）
The presence of CMA brass could amplify criticisms of the dinner occurring despite coronavirus restrictions that have limited Californians’ movements and constrained businesses. While Newsom and Kinney’s lobbying firm have said the meal abided by public health rules, it has struck a chord with Californians who have assailed the upscale soiree as hypocritical as coronavirus cases surge.
(California doctors' top brass attended French Laundry dinner with Newsom. Politico. November 18, 2020.)
OAKLAND — California Medical Association officials were among the guests seated next to Gov. Gavin Newsom at a top California political operative’s opulent birthday dinner at the French Laundry restaurant this month.
CEO Dustin Corcoran and top CMA lobbyist Janus Norman both joined the dinner at the French Laundry, an elite Napa fine dining restaurant, to celebrate the 50th birthday of lobbyist and longtime Newsom adviser Jason Kinney, a representative of the powerful interest group confirmed Wednesday morning.
（中略）
The presence of CMA brass could amplify criticisms of the dinner occurring despite coronavirus restrictions that have limited Californians’ movements and constrained businesses. While Newsom and Kinney’s lobbying firm have said the meal abided by public health rules, it has struck a chord with Californians who have assailed the upscale soiree as hypocritical as coronavirus cases surge.
(California doctors' top brass attended French Laundry dinner with Newsom. Politico. November 18, 2020.)
新型コロナ禍の中、市民には自粛要請や外出制限をしておいて、お偉方はちゃっかり・・・、という、よくある話です。
真鍮の意味の"brass"がどうしてお偉いさんを意味するようになったのでしょう。
"brass"にはこの他にも、自信過剰とか、鉄面皮、あつかましさ、といった意味もありますが、これらの意味は真鍮という金属の頑丈さから発展したものです。
本来は良い意味だったはずですが、悪い意味にシフトしたようです。お偉いさんの性格、性質を言い表しているような・・・。
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