drop a brick/clangerdrop a brick1. To unintentionally say or do something embarrassing, tactless, or indiscreet; to commit some social faux pas or mistake. Primarily heard in UK. I dropped a brick on our first date by ordering veal, only realizing later that he's a staunch animal rights advocate. Show 2. To announce a particularly surprising, alarming, or upsetting piece of news. An alternative form of "drop a bombshell." Primarily heard in US, South Africa. Mary dropped a brick when she told me she was moving to France next week. I'm about to drop a brick on my parents by telling them that I'm going to quit law school and pursue a career in art. See also: brick, drop drop a clangerTo accidentally do something embarrassing. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I really dropped a clanger when I asked Julia about her surprise partywhich hadn't happened yet. See also: clanger, drop Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved. drop a brickAlso, drop a clanger. Say something indiscreet, commit a social gaffe. For example, John dropped a brick when he called her by his ex-wife's name. [Slang; 1920s] See also: brick, drop The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. drop a brickBRITISHIf you drop a brick, you say something which upsets or offends other people. After his comments on the live TV programme, Mr Freeman was immediately aware that he had dropped a political brick of the worst kind. See also: brick, drop drop a clangerBRITISH, INFORMALIf you drop a clanger, you make a very embarrassing mistake. Conservatives in Eastleigh dropped a clanger in their election leaflet by admitting that few people will be voting for them tomorrow. The presenter dropped a clanger on this morning's show by referring to the singer's long-haired son as a girl. Note: This expression probably comes from comparing an obvious and embarrassing mistake with the clang or loud ringing noise made when a heavy metal object is dropped. See also: clanger, drop Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012 drop a brickmake an indiscreet or embarrassing remark. British informalSee also: brick, drop drop a clangermake an embarrassing or foolish mistake. British informalDropping something that makes a loud clang attracts attention; this mid 20th-century expression is used especially in the context of a very embarrrassing or tactless act or remark made in a social situation. 1998 Spectator Yet he never escaped from his own nagging suspicion that he had somehow overachievedand that he was likely to drop a huge clanger at any moment. See also: clanger, drop Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017 drop a ˈbrick/ˈclanger(British English, informal) say or do something that offends or embarrasses somebody, although you did not intend to: I dropped a real clanger when I mentioned the party. He hadnt been invited.See also: brick, clanger, drop Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017 drop a brickand drop a bomb(shell)tv. to reveal startling information. Britney came in and dropped a brick that scared us all. She dropped a bombshell when she told us she was married again. See also: brick, drop McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. drop a brickInformalTo make a clumsy social error. See also: brick, drop American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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