like a ton of bricks
With devastating force
Like a ton of bricks describes something that hits with sudden, overwhelming force.
Bad news can hit you like a ton of bricks—unexpected and devastating.
A tackle or punch lands like a ton of bricks.
The phrase emphasizes both weight and abruptness: The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.
To come down on someone like a ton of bricks is to punish or criticize them harshly.
- hard-hittingUnsparing and direct
- hit hardStrike with power
- gut punchShocking emotional blow
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
out of nowhere · realization · collision · knocked flat · winded · epiphany · harsh reality · overwhelming · sinking feeling · grief · abrupt · rude awakening · wake up call · blindsided · regret · sudden · despair · dread
like a ton of brickslightly
With little weight
gently · softly · delicately · mildly · tenderly
like a ton of bricksgradually
In slow stages
slowly · bit by bit · little by little · incrementally · by degrees
like, liking, likes, likeable, likable, unlike, tons, brick, bricks