This idiom is a favorite of many journalists, who frequently use it. A press conference is described as being attended by the "top brass" whenever the senior members of an organization are present. The phrase, which is regarded as informal, is primarily used in British English.

The minister has said that there will be a reshuffle of the army's top brass.

In the Army, the term "top brass" was first adopted. The term "brass" referred to the gold braid that was used to identify military officers' ranks on their caps. The term "brass" is essentially an abbreviated version of "brass hat," which enlisted soldiers used to describe their commanding officer in the late 19th century. "Brass hat" evolved into "top brass" during World War Two. With time, the term "top brass" started to be employed in non-military situations to refer to significant members of an organization. They can also be referred to as "the brass" in this context.