Definition

1. Noun:
   • Blunt criticism: A harsh, direct, and often unsubtle critical remark or verbal attack.
   • A fragment of brick used as a weapon: A piece of a brick, especially one thrown as a missile to attack someone or something.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Criticism):
  • The new policy faced brickbats from the opposition party.
  • Her latest book received both praise and brickbats from reviewers.
• Noun (Weapon):
  • The protesters hurled brickbats at the police vehicles.
  • A brickbat thrown through the window caused significant damage.

Advanced Usage

• "to hurl/fling brickbats at": To direct strong criticism at a person or institution.
  • The journalist hurled brickbats at the government's handling of the crisis.
• "to be a target for brickbats": To be subjected to severe criticism.
  • Any public figure is a target for both bouquets and brickbats.

Variants and Related Words

• Criticism (n): The general act of expressing disapproval. (A more common and less specific synonym for the first meaning).
• Missile (n): An object thrown or projected as a weapon. (A more general term for the second meaning).

Synonyms

• For criticism: Rebuke, censure, condemnation, verbal attack.
• For weapon fragment: Projectile, missile, stone.

Related Phrases

• "Bouquets and brickbats": An idiom meaning both praise and criticism.
  • The CEO's speech was met with the usual bouquets and brickbats from the press.

Noun

1. blunt criticism
2. a fragment of brick used as a weapon