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3. like a ton of bricks

like a ton of bricks

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*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.

See also: brick, like, of, ton

(hit you) like a ton of bricks

to shock you so much that you do not know how to react The death of her father hit her like a ton of bricks.

See also: brick, like, of, ton

like a ton of bricks

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]

See also: brick, like, of, ton

like a ton of bricks

mod. like something very ponderous and heavy. Hitting the back end of that truck was like hitting a ton of bricks.

See also: brick, like, of, ton