If you suggest a person has a Brass Neck you are implying that they have some nerve and will try anything to suit their own purposes, usually with the reluctant respect of others for their cheek. The phrase’s origin seems to lie with the legend of a highwayman who was sentenced to hang from a tree for his crimes. This way of hanging brought about a slow death by choking so the highwayman came up with a cunning plan. He swallowed a piece of brass tube, with a wire attached to it and held inside his mouth, in the hope this would prevent his throat being crushed and allow him to breathe long enough for the crowd to leave. Then, he needed an accomplice who could cut him down, remove the tube and save his life. Unfortunately, it’s not known if this actually happened, but the legend is where the term “brass neck” came from.