What does bricky mean?
"Bricky" is a chiefly British informal adjective with two principal senses. Its more colourful use describes a person or action as courageous, plucky, or spirited, extending the long-standing slang term "brick" for a dependable, admirable individual — so a "bricky" choice is a bold one made with grit. The second, more literal sense describes something made of, covered in, or resembling brick, such as the bricky façade of a Victorian warehouse. In everyday conversation, especially in Britain, the word carries warm, admiring connotations of backbone and determination rather than recklessness. Because it is informal, it suits journalism, fiction, and casual speech more than technical writing. Related forms include the noun "bricky," an old occupational term for a brickmaker, and "brickie," the familiar British term for a bricklayer. For learners of English, "bricky" is a small word that captures a very British way of praising quiet courage.
Courageous, plucky, or spirited; showing determination in the face of difficulty (chiefly British informal).
"It was a bricky decision to confront the committee chairman directly, but she pulled it off."
Informal and chiefly British; rooted in the slang use of "brick" for a reliable, admirable person.
Made of, consisting of, or resembling brick; having the character or appearance of brickwork.
"The old mill had a bricky exterior, its walls stained deep red by decades of weather."
In British slang, calling someone "bricky" compares their courage to that of a "brick" — old Cockney shorthand for a thoroughly dependable, stand-up person.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bricky
"Bricky" is formed from the English noun "brick" plus the adjectival suffix "-y." The figurative sense draws on the slang use of "brick" — established by the late 17th century and popular in 19th-century British usage — for a fine, reliable, courageous person, so "bricky" came to mean plucky or game. The literal sense simply denotes something composed of or like brick. A rare related noun "bricky" historically denoted a brickmaker.
How bricky is actually used
The "plucky" sense is distinctly British and colloquial; it derives from the older slang use of "brick" to mean a fine, reliable person. It is informal in register and would be unusual in formal American writing. The "resembling brick" sense is more literal and less common.
Easily confused with bricky
"Brickie" is a British colloquial noun for a bricklayer or someone who lays bricks, while "bricky" is an adjective describing courage or resemblance to brick.