Bricked up usually means something has been sealed off or closed with bricks so it cannot be used anymore. In a more casual way, people also use it to mean someone looks very muscular, full, or “solid” in a body-focused way, depending on the context.
In everyday life, people use bricked up when talking about walls, doors, windows, or other openings that have been blocked with bricks. In slang, it can also appear in online talk or casual conversation to describe a person’s body shape or appearance, so the meaning depends on how it is used.
Meaning & Usage
Use bricked up for a place that has been physically sealed off, or in slang to describe someone as looking very built or solid. The exact meaning comes from the situation around it.
Examples
“The old doorway was bricked up years ago.”
“He’s looking bricked up after months at the gym.”
Is “bricked up” always a literal phrase?
No. It can be literal, but in casual speech it may also be slang. The context tells you which meaning is intended.
Can I use it in formal writing?
Only for the literal meaning, like describing a wall or doorway that has been sealed with bricks. The slang use is too informal for most formal writing.
How do I know which meaning someone means?
Look at the topic of the conversation. If they are talking about buildings, it is literal. If they are talking about a person, it may be slang.
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