make bricks without straw
Lack essential materials
To make bricks without straw is to attempt something without the necessary materials or resources.
The phrase comes from Exodus, where Pharaoh orders the Israelites to produce bricks without providing straw as a binding agent.
It describes being expected to deliver results despite lacking essential support: They want us to finish the project by Friday but won't approve overtime—we're making bricks without straw.
Incapable of occurring
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- dauntingDiscouraging through difficulty
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
- demandingRequiring great effort
uphill · Herculean · Sisyphean · grueling · thankless · futile · shortage · scarcity
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
- problem-solvingAddressing challenges methodically
makeshift · workaround · inventiveness · MacGyver · bricolage · scrappiness · bootstrapping · jerry-rigging
Firmness of purpose
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
fortitude · persistence · steadfastness · doggedness · persisting · struggling · striving · carrying-on
impossible
Incapable of occurring
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- dauntingDiscouraging through difficulty
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
demanding · uphill · Herculean · Sisyphean · grueling · thankless · futile · shortage · scarcity · deprivation
improvisation
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
- creativityCapacity for original thought
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
problem-solving · makeshift · workaround · inventiveness · MacGyver · bricolage · scrappiness · bootstrapping · jerry-rigging · stopgap
determination
Firmness of purpose
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
endurance · fortitude · persistence · steadfastness · doggedness · persisting · struggling · striving · carrying-on · weathering
make bricks without strawwell-equipped
Having adequate supplies
armed to the teeth · loaded for bear · kitted out · spoiled for choice
make bricks without straweasy as pie
Extremely simple to accomplish
a walk in the park · child's play · plain sailing · like falling off a log · like taking candy from a baby
make, makes, made, making, maker, makers, brick, bricks, bricked