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.

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, adjective un·bricked, adjective

Words nearby brick

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

British Dictionary definitions for make bricks without straw

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 block a 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; severely when 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 bricks to 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

Idioms and Phrases with make bricks without straw (1 of 2)

make bricks without straw

Perform a task without essential materials or means, as in Writing a report without the current data is making bricks without straw. This expression alludes to straw as a material necessary in early brick manufacturing. [Early 1600s]

Idioms and Phrases with make bricks without straw (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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

brick

noun

verb (used with object)

adjective

Idioms for brick

Origin of brick

OTHER WORDS FROM brick

Words nearby brick

British Dictionary definitions for make bricks without straw

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for brick

Idioms and Phrases with make bricks without straw (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with make bricks without straw (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

brick

noun

verb (used with object)

adjective

Idioms for brick

Origin of brick

OTHER WORDS FROM brick

Words nearby brick

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for make bricks without straw

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for brick

Idioms and Phrases with make bricks without straw (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with make bricks without straw (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for make bricks without straw