I ran into a brick wall trying to fix my computer.
run into a brick wall
idiomto encounter an insurmountable barrier or obstacle to progress
We had a great plan for the project, but we ran into a brick wall when the budget was cut.
The researchers hoped for a breakthrough, but they ran into a brick wall when the data failed to support their hypothesis.
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back to the wall
A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.
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balls to the wall
With maximum effort or commitment.
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bang one's head against a brick wall
To waste effort on a futile project.
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blue wall of silence
Strict secretiveness maintained by the members of a police force with respect to information which might be contrary to their interests, especially information concerning questionable police actions.
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bounce off the walls
To be overly active relative to the enclosed space in which one is.
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break into a run
To start running.
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break the fourth wall
To apparently communicate with reality directly, such as when characters of literature comment on the existence of a reader.
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brick in
To enclose with bricks.
Last updated April 17, 2026