a solid brick of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a solid brick of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is dense, substantial, or heavy, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "He handed me a solid brick of chocolate, and I couldn't resist taking a bite."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And they're appallingly over-compressed, like a solid brick of sound.

The Guardian - Music

Did you know that you can turn snail shells into a solid brick of lime using fire, water, and some clay pots?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

My mother's kitchen now contained government cheese: a long, solid brick of uncut processed American cheese--think generic Kraft, but less yielding.

Huffington Post

In this work, we adapt this methodology to an experimental study conducted in an environmental chamber, with measurements recorded every minute from temperature probes and heat flux sensors placed on both sides of a solid brick wall over a five-day period.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

The development of a two thermal mass, three thermal resistance model (2TM) enabled the thermal structure of the wall to be investigated and related to the known physical structure of two heavy-weight walls of different construction: a solid brick wall and an aerated clay, plaster, woodfibre insulation and gypsum fibreboard wall.

Energy and Buildings

The Sandstone Restaurant has been a local favorite for years, situated behind a solid brick wall and offering a similarly solid menu of beef and seafood, with the optional wedge of iceberg.

The New York Times

Essentially an arrangement of tightly woven squares, it also resembles a solid brick wall.

The New York Times

Then I noticed all the bags were coming out of a tiny door in what looked like a solid brick wall.

Vice

Though it is one of Melbourne's art deco buildings, it is also a solid brick structure with few obvious aesthetic qualities.

The Guardian - Film

I hoped the dirt would somehow cool and be transformed into a solid brick by morning.

The New York Times

Performance of proposed static sunshade has been found to be better than horizontal static sunshade in winter while that of proposed brick cavity wall with brick projections is better than a solid brick wall in summer.

Energy and Buildings

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a solid brick of", ensure that the imagery of a dense, compact block is appropriate for the context. It works well when describing tangible items or metaphorical concepts requiring emphasis on their substantial nature.

Common error

Avoid using "a solid brick of" when the object or concept being described is inherently fluid, amorphous, or intangible. The phrase implies a distinct, measurable form, and misapplication can create confusing imagery.

Linguistic Context

A solid brick of functions as a descriptive phrase, typically acting as a modifier to a noun. It characterizes the noun as being dense, substantial, and having a distinct, compact form. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a solid brick of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something dense, compact, and substantial, or to metaphorically emphasize the weight or impact of an abstract concept. Though not exceedingly common, its usage appears in various sources like news media and scientific publications. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While there are many related phrases, ""a block of solid"" and ""a chunk of solid"" offer closest alternatives. When employing the phrase, it's advisable to ensure its suitability to the context and avoid applying it to inherently fluid or amorphous subjects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a block of solid

Replaces "brick" with "block", suggesting a similarly shaped but possibly larger or more amorphous mass.

a solid mass of

Reorders the words to emphasize the "solid" aspect, slightly altering the flow.

a dense block of

Substitutes "solid" with "dense" to highlight the compactness of the material.

a chunk of solid

Uses "chunk" to imply a rougher, less defined piece compared to a brick.

a compact brick of

Focuses on the compactness of the brick, rather than its solidity.

a solid slab of

Employs "slab" to evoke a flat, thick piece, differing in shape from a brick.

a mass of solid

Emphasizes the bulk and density more than the shape.

a good brick of

Adds an adjective to add emphasis, a 'good' brick of something.

a solid piece of

Uses a more generic term "piece" instead of the specific "brick".

a substantial amount of

Shifts the focus to quantity rather than physical form.

FAQs

How can I use "a solid brick of" in a sentence?

You can use "a solid brick of" to describe a dense or substantial quantity of something, like "He handed me "a solid brick of chocolate"" or metaphorically, as in "The new evidence presented "a solid brick of support" for his claim."

What are some alternatives to "a solid brick of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "a block of solid", "a chunk of solid", or "a substantial amount of".

Is it appropriate to use "a solid brick of" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a solid brick of" leans towards a slightly informal register. In very formal writing, consider more precise or descriptive language that avoids the metaphorical image of a brick, although there is no problem in using in that context.

What does "a solid brick of" emphasize about the thing it describes?

The phrase emphasizes the density, compactness, and substantial nature of the described item. It suggests that the item is heavy, well-formed, and not easily broken or dispersed.