run into a brick wall

verb

To encounter an insurmountable barrier or obstacle to progress.

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Meanings

verbrun into a brick wall (third-person singular simple present runs into a brick wall, present participle running into a brick wall, simple past ran into a brick wall, past participle run into a brick wall)

present singular third person runs into a brick wall · participle present running into a brick wall · past ran into a brick wall

  1. idiomatictransitiveTo encounter an insurmountable barrier or obstacle to progress.
Cite this entry
APA

run into a brick wall. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20into%20a%20brick%20wall

MLA

“run into a brick wall.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20into%20a%20brick%20wall. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “run into a brick wall,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20into%20a%20brick%20wall.

Source: run into a brick wall on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.