brick in
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To seal or fill an opening (such as a doorway or window) by constructing a wall of bricks: The action of permanently closing an opening using bricks and mortar.
Usage
- The verb "brick in" is a phrasal verb meaning to wall up. It is transitive and requires a direct object (the opening being sealed). It is often used in the passive voice (e.g., "The window was bricked in").
- It describes a deliberate, permanent architectural modification, often for security, structural reasons, or to repurpose a space.
Examples
- Verb:
- The previous owners had bricked in the fireplace, so we had to reopen it.
- For safety, they decided to brick in the old cellar entrance.
- The beautiful arched window had been bricked in decades ago.
Advanced Usage
- "to brick something in": The standard construction, emphasizing the act of sealing.
- They plan to brick in the unused doorway to create more wall space.
- Often implies the sealed opening remains visible as a filled-in section, not a seamless wall.
Variants and Related Words
- Brick up (phrasal verb): A synonym with identical meaning to "brick in."
- The council ordered them to brick up the unsafe opening.
- Wall up (verb): A more general term for sealing an opening with any wall material.
- Infill (verb/noun): A broader architectural term for filling a space, which could include bricking in.
Synonyms
- Seal up: To close securely.
- Wall up: To close with a wall.
- Fill in: To make an opening solid.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Brick over: Similar to "brick in," but can imply covering a surface (like a path) with bricks, not just filling an opening.
- They bricked over the old patio.
Related Idioms
- He bricked in his emotions after the loss. (Metaphorical use meaning to shut away or make inaccessible, though this is an extension, not a standard idiom.)