built like a brick outhouse
Powerfully, solidly constructed
Built like a brick outhouse describes someone with an impressively solid, muscular physique—sturdy and powerful rather than delicate.
The expression plays on the idea that an outhouse built of brick would be far more substantial than necessary for its humble purpose.
It applies to both men and women, though for women it often emphasizes curves along with strength: She's built like a brick outhouse—don't mess with her.
Sometimes shortened to *brick house*, as in the Commodores song.
- gorillaLargest great ape
- absolute unitImpressively massive entity
- HerculeanRequiring superhuman strength
- built like a tankExceptionally robust and durable
- sturdySolidly built, durable
Gibraltar · solid · solid as a rock · leviathan · robust · burly · durable · strong as an ox · muscular · stocky · rugged · hulking · hefty · strapping · broad-shouldered · brick house · brawny · tough as nails
built like a brick outhousescrawny
Unattractively thin and bony
frail · skinny as a rail · skin and bones · puny · beanpole
built like a brick outhouseflimsy
Weak and easily damaged
rickety · jerry-built · fragile · ramshackle · shoddy
builds, building, buildings, builder, builders, rebuilds, rebuilding, rebuilt, likeness