come down like a ton of bricks

1. To fall or collapse violently and often unexpectedly. We must have been missing some screws when we built the bookshelf because it just came down like a ton of bricks!

2. slang To punish someone swiftly and harshly. When I was caught cheating on a test, the principal came down like a ton of bricks on me.

See also: brick, come, down, like, of, ton

come down like a ton of bricks

exert crushing weight, force, or authority against someone. informal

See also: brick, come, down, like, of, ton

References in periodicals archive ?

And last week Lib Dem John Hemming tabled an EDM to come down like a ton of bricks on the BBC for saying "come down like a tonne of bricks".

Cracking the whip

We must come down like a ton of bricks on those who refuse help or who peddle drugs."

LAW AND ORDER CLAMPDOWN: DRUGS: THE NEW WAR; -Dealers targeted -Compulsory tests -More into rehab -Crack dens blitz