brick

[ brik ]

/ brɪk /

noun

a block of clay hardened by drying in the sun or burning in a kiln, and used for building, paving, etc.: traditionally, in the U.S., a rectangle 2.25 × 3.75 × 8 inches (5.7 × 9.5 × 20.3 cm), red, brown, or yellow in color.

such blocks collectively.

the material of which such blocks are made.

any block or bar having a similar size and shape: a gold brick; an ice-cream brick.

the length of a brick as a measure of thickness, as of a wall: one and a half bricks thick.

Informal. an admirably good or generous person.

Informal. an electronic device that has become completely nonfunctional.

verb (used with object)

to pave, line, wall, fill, or build with brick.

Informal. to cause (an electronic device) to become completely nonfunctional: I bricked my phone while doing the upgrade.

adjective

made of, constructed with, or resembling bricks.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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Idioms for brick

drop a brick, to make a social gaffe or blunder, especially an indiscreet remark.

hit the bricks,

to walk the streets, especially as an unemployed or homeless person.
to go on strike: With contract talks stalled, workers are threatening to hit the bricks.

Also take to the bricks.

make bricks without straw,

to plan or act on a false premise or unrealistic basis.
to create something that will not last: To form governments without the consent of the people is to make bricks without straw.
to perform a task despite the lack of necessary materials.

Origin of brick

1400–50; late Middle English brike < Middle Dutch bricke; akin to break

OTHER WORDS FROM brick

brick·like, brick·ish, adjectiveun·bricked, adjective

Words nearby brick

bribe, bribery, bric-a-brac, brice, bricht, brick, brick cheese, brick red, brick veneer, brick-and-mortar, brickbat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for hit the bricks

brick

/ (brɪk) /

noun

a rectangular block of clay mixed with sand and fired in a kiln or baked by the sun, used in building construction
(as modifier)a brick house

the material used to make such blocks

any rectangular blocka brick of ice

bricks collectively

informal a reliable, trustworthy, or helpful person

British a child's building block

short for brick red

drop a brick British informal to make a tactless or indiscreet remark

like a ton of bricks informal (used esp of the manner of punishing or reprimanding someone) with great force; severelywhen he spotted my mistake he came down on me like a ton of bricks

verb (tr)

(usually foll by in, up or over) to construct, line, pave, fill, or wall up with bricksto brick up a window; brick over a patio

slang to attack (a person) with a brick or bricks

Word Origin for brick

C15: from Old French brique, from Middle Dutch bricke; related to Middle Low German brike, Old English brecan to break

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with hit the bricks (1 of 2)

hit the bricks

Go out on strike, as in The union voted to hit the bricks as soon as their contract expired. [Slang; 1940s]

Idioms and Phrases with hit the bricks (2 of 2)

brick

In addition to the idioms beginning with brick

bricks and mortar
bricks shy of a load

also see:

drop a brick
hit the bricks
like a cat on a hot brick
like a ton of bricks
make bricks without straw
run into a stone (brick) wall

brick

noun

verb (used with object)

adjective

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Idioms for brick

Origin of brick

OTHER WORDS FROM brick

Words nearby brick

Words related to hit the bricks

British Dictionary definitions for hit the bricks

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for brick

Idioms and Phrases with hit the bricks (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with hit the bricks (2 of 2)