slang To punish someone swiftly and harshly. Mom will be down on you like a ton of bricks if you come home past curfew again.When I was caught cheating on a test, the principal was down on me like a ton of bricks.
Inf. like a great weight or burden. (*Typically: fall ~; hit ~; hit someone ~.) Suddenly, the truth hit me like a ton of bricks.The sudden tax increase hit like a ton of bricks. Everyone became angry.
to punish someone very quickly and severely If you miss any more classes, your teachers will be down on you like a ton of bricks.When he failed to supply his accounts, tax inspectors came down on him like a ton of bricks. (informal)
Very heavily, without subtlety. For example, If he doesn't like your work, he'll come down on you like a ton of bricks. This expression, often coupled with come down on (def. 1), replaced the earlier thousand of brick or hundred of brick. The allusion in all these is to the considerable weight of such a load. [Early 1900s]