like a ton of bricks
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Very strongly; very heavily; often unexpectedly.
Register: colloquial
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The Defendant then came down on me like a ton of bricks, as my eye will prove.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “like a ton of bricks” mean?
Very strongly; very heavily; often unexpectedly.
Is “like a ton of bricks” formal or informal?
like a ton of bricks is generally colloquial.