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ton

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be down on (one) like a ton of bricks

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.

See also: brick, down, like, of, on, ton

*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

tons of something

lots of something. We got tons of fried chicken, so help yourself. You are in tons of trouble.

See also: 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

weigh a ton

to be very heavy This suitcase weighs a ton!

Usage notes: usually said about something you have to lift or carry

See also: ton, weigh

hit somebody like a ton of bricks

  (American informal)

to surprise or shock someone very much The truth hit him like a ton of bricks. The woman in the video was his own sister.

See also: brick, hit, like, of, ton

be/come down on somebody like a ton of bricks

  (informal)

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)

See hit like a ton of bricks, weigh a ton

See also: brick, down, like, of, on, ton

weigh a ton

  (informal)

to be very heavy This suitcase weighs a ton!

See also: ton, weigh

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

tons of something

n. lots of something. We got tons of fried chicken, so help yourself.

See also: of, ton