make bricks without straw Definition

brick
noun

1. A rectangular block of baked clay used for building.
2. The material used for making bricks.
3. A child's plastic or wooden building block, usually part of a set containing chiefly square or rectangular shapes.
4. Something in the shape of a brick.

Example: a brick of ice cream
(Brit)
5. colloq
A trusted, helpful, supportive person.
Form: a brick

adj

1. Made of brick or of bricks.

Example: a brick wall
2. Having the dull brownish-red colour of ordinary bricks.

Form: brick-red (also)

verb

bricked, bricking
1. To close, cover, fill in or wall up (eg a window) with bricks.

Form: brick something in (usually)
Form: brick something over
Form: brick something up

Idiom: a brick short of a load

colloq
Not quite all there (see all there at all); rather dim-witted or slow.

Idiom: bang one's head against a brick wall

See under head.

Idiom: make bricks without straw

To do a job without having the proper or necessary materials for it.

Etymology: 15c: from French brique, from Dutch bricke.