Definition

1. Noun:
   • A helpful and trustworthy person; a good fellow: In informal use, "brick" can describe a person who is dependable, kind, and solid in character.
   • A rectangular block of baked clay: A hard, durable building or paving material, typically made by firing clay in a kiln.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Person):

  • She's been a real brick, helping me move house.
  • Thanks for listening; you're a brick.

• Noun (Object):

  • The house was built of red brick.
  • They paved the courtyard with old bricks.

Advanced Usage

• "to drop a brick" (idiom, informal): to say or do something embarrassing or tactless.

  • He really dropped a brick when he asked about her ex-husband.

• "like a ton of bricks" (idiom): with great force, impact, or severity.

  • The news hit her like a ton of bricks.

• "to be (as) thick as a brick" (idiom, informal): to be very stupid or slow to understand.

  • I've explained it three times, but he's as thick as a brick.

Variants and Related Words

• Brickwork (n): the part of a building that is made of bricks.

  • The old chimney had intricate brickwork.

• Bricklayer (n): a person whose job is to build walls, houses, etc., with bricks.

  • My uncle is a skilled bricklayer.

• Brick-red (adj): having a dull red color like some bricks.

  • She painted the door a brick-red color.

Synonyms

• Noun (Person): stalwart, trouper, gem.
• Noun (Object): block, paver.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Brick up/in (phrasal verb): to fill or block an opening (like a door or window) with a wall of bricks.
  • They decided to brick up the old fireplace.

Related Idioms

• "To make bricks without straw": to try to do a task without the necessary materials or resources.

  • Asking us to write the report without the data is like making bricks without straw.

• "To have a brick in one's hat" (archaic slang): to be drunk.

  • After three pints, he was well on his way to having a brick in his hat.

Noun

1. a good fellow; helpful and trustworthy
2. rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material