have a brick in one's hat
To be drunk.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He had a brick in his hat after the party.”
“The man was stumbling down the street because he clearly had a brick in his hat.”
“After consuming several rounds of strong spirits, he began to behave erratically, suggesting he had a brick in his hat.”
Mid-19th century, of American origin. The expression refers to the unsteady gait of an intoxicated person, which was likened to the difficulty of balancing a heavy object, such as a brick, inside one's headgear. Under the weight of the invisible masonry, the wearer was observed to walk with a distinct lack of coordination.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026