brick
/brik/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- a good fellow; helpful and trustworthy
- rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material