Phrase guide

hit like a ton of bricks

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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verb

Meaning 1

To have a sudden and significant emotional impact.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

His depression hit him like a ton of bricks.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Word forms

Inflections and variants

hits like a ton of bricks — present, singular, third-person
hitting like a ton of bricks — participle, present
hit like a ton of bricks — participle, past
hit like a ton of bricks — past

Word family

Derived and related words

Derived: none provided

Related: none provided

Semantic map

Other relationships

Sources

Where this information comes from

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