brick-and-mortar
Referring to a physical location for something, typically a business (usually as opposed to an online destination). You can order these shoes online or pick them up in one of our convenient brick-and-mortar locations. We couldn't afford to keep a brick-and-mortar storefront running anymore, so we switched to a totally online business model. Although they have become pretty adept at online shopping over the years, my parents still prefer to get things from a brick-and-mortar store when they can.
brick-and-mortar operation
A business, organization, or other enterprise that uses a physical location as its primary center of operations (as opposed to the Internet). If our retail business is going to survive, we need to move the brick-and-mortar operation online. Most of our work is done online, but we make sure to maintain a brick-and-mortar operation as a place where locals can get involved in person. A cloud hangs over the future of the business, as customers continue to move their shopping habits online and away from brick-and-mortar operations like this.
bricks and mortar
1. noun The most fundamental elements or aspects (of something). Teachers are the bricks and mortar of the school system. If we don't look after them, what hope do students have of getting the education they deserve? Our receptionist is the bricks and mortar of our whole department, and everyone knows it now that she's been out sick. I know you think the multiplication tables are boring, but you really need to memorize them—they're the bricks and mortar that your future math classes will build upon.
2. noun, slang Daughter. The phrase comes from rhyming slang in which the British pronunciation of "mortar" rhymes with "daughter." Primarily heard in UK. I have two sons but only one bricks and mortar. I was not a good student, so I'm filled with pride whenever my bricks and mortar brings home a report card with straight A's! I assumed that having a bricks and mortar would be nothing but drama, but she's fine—it's my sons who are always getting into trouble!
3. adjective Referring to a physical location for something, typically a business (usually as opposed to an online destination). In this usage, the term is hyphenated and used before a noun. You can order these shoes online or pick them up in one of our convenient bricks-and-mortar locations. We couldn't afford to keep a brick-and-mortar storefront running anymore, so we switched to a totally online business model. Although they have become pretty adept at online shopping over the years, my parents still prefer to get things from a brick-and-mortar store when they can.
4. adjective Fundamental and necessary. In this usage, the term is hyphenated and used before a noun. The candidate has yet to state the bricks-and-mortar components of his economic plan. The board won't approve funding for your research until they see the bricks-and-mortar elements of your project in writing. Grandpa ran his store for over 50 years, so he can definitely help you with the bricks-and-mortar aspects of starting a business.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bricks and mortar
buildings; the expenditure of money on buildings rather than something else. (The buildings referred to can be constructed out of anything.) The new president of the college preferred to invest in new faculty members rather than bricks and mortar. Sometimes people are happy to donate millions of dollars for bricks and mortar, but they never think of the additional cost of annual maintenance.
brick(s)-and-mortar
[of commercial establishements] based in buildings rather than relying on online sales over the Internet. Many of the dot-com business owners have never been involved in a brick-and-mortar business.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
bricks and mortar
Basic and essential, as in Matthew Arnold's essay (1865): "Margate, that bricks-and-mortar image of British Protestantism." This phrase transfers essential building materials to other fundamental matters. It also may be used more literally to denote a building or buildings (whether or not made of bricks and mortar), as in The alumni prefer to see their donations in the form of bricks and mortar. [Mid-1800s]
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.