bricking: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal for computing, gaming, and slang meanings; Technical/Formal for literal masonry meaning.
Quick answer
What does “bricking” mean?
The act of building or blocking something with bricks, or the process of something becoming hard like a brick (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of building or blocking something with bricks, or the process of something becoming hard like a brick (e.g., in ceramics).
1. In computing/gaming: Making a device (like a smartphone or console) unusable (i.e., as useful as a brick) due to a failed software update or hack. 2. In basketball: To miss a shot badly, implying the ball is as heavy/brick-like. 3. In poker: A final community card that has no effect on the likely outcome. 4. Slang: Feeling extreme nervousness or anxiety (e.g., 'bricking it').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The slang for anxiety ('I'm bricking it') is primarily British. 'Bricking' a device is pan-English. The literal masonry term is used similarly.
Connotations
UK: Strong informal, almost slangy connotation for fear. US: More neutral for device failure; 'bricking' for anxiety is less common and may be seen as a UK-ism.
Frequency
Metaphorical uses (tech failure, anxiety) are far more frequent than literal 'laying bricks' in general discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “bricking” in a Sentence
[Device/System] + be + bricking (intransitive, progressive)[Action/Update] + brick + [Device] (transitive)[Person] + be + bricking it (BrE, intransitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bricking” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Be careful with that unofficial software; you risk bricking your console.
- I was absolutely bricking it before my driving test.
American English
- The beta update ended up bricking several test units.
- He bricked his phone trying to jailbreak it.
adjective
British English
- The phone was in a bricking state after the failed flash.
American English
- A bricking device is often beyond economical repair.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in tech support contexts discussing device warranties.
Academic
Rare, except in historical/architectural papers discussing masonry techniques.
Everyday
Common in informal tech talk among gamers and smartphone users; also UK youth slang for fear.
Technical
Standard in computing/electronics for describing a device that will not boot due to corrupted firmware.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bricking”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bricking”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bricking”
- Using 'bricking' as a transitive verb for emotions (e.g., 'The news bricked him' - incorrect). It's 'He was bricking it'.
- Using it in formal writing where 'corrupting the firmware' or 'rendering inoperable' is more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its primary contemporary uses (device failure, slang for anxiety) are informal. The literal masonry sense is technical/formal.
No, 'bricking' implies a permanent or very severe failure, rendering the device as useful as a brick. A temporary crash or freeze is not 'bricking'.
It's thought to be rhyming slang from 'bricking it' = 'brick-shitting', a vulgar expression for extreme fear causing loss of bowel control. It entered mainstream (polite) UK slang in the late 20th century.
No, while most common for handheld electronics, it can apply to any device with firmware—routers, smart TVs, tablets, even some modern car infotainment systems.
The act of building or blocking something with bricks, or the process of something becoming hard like a brick (e.
Bricking: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪkɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɪkɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bricking it (BrE)”
- “to brick one's phone/console”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BRICK as a useless block. 'BRICKING' your phone turns your smart device into just that - a dumb, useless brick.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FAILING/ANXIOUS ENTITY IS A SOLID, USELESS OBJECT (like a brick).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bricking' MOST likely to be used in British informal speech?