Meaning
In New York City slang, brick describes weather that is extremely cold or freezing, especially in the expression “it’s brick outside.”
How it is used
This slang sense normally describes very cold weather or outdoor conditions. Context separates it from the ordinary noun brick used for building material.
Examples
- “It’s brick outside, so bring your heavy coat.”
- “The platform was brick this morning before sunrise.”
- “I stepped outside and realized it was brick.”
Pronunciation
/brɪk/ · brick
Tone and register
Informal and emphatic, with a strong New York association even though the slang is spreading beyond the region.
Visitor guidance
Visitors mainly need to recognize brick as meaning extremely cold. Using it occasionally in a natural weather context is less conspicuous than treating it as a general-purpose New York catchphrase.
Cultural context
Merriam-Webster traces the slang adjective to African American English in New York City and its environs and notes that it remains primarily associated with New York while spreading elsewhere.
Origin
Merriam-Webster identifies the standalone cold-weather slang sense as originating in African American English as used in New York City and surrounding areas. The broader word brick is, of course, much older.
Places represented
Open the reviewed place guide for each regional sense carried by this canonical entry.
Comparisons featuring this term
Open reviewed place comparisons that explicitly use this canonical term in their editorial comparison set.