Brickbat Info

Historically, these fragments were used as handy, rock-like missiles. Because they were heavy and easy to throw, they became common projectiles during riots or street brawls when stones were scarce. The Infamous Legal "Brickbat"

: Candidates often "hurl brickbats" at one another during heated debates. brickbat

: A poorly received play or movie might be greeted with "brickbats" from critics. Historically, these fragments were used as handy, rock-like

"The politician handled the on social media with surprising grace". : A poorly received play or movie might

One of the most famous literal uses of the term appears in 17th-century English legal history. In a reported case from 1631, a condemned prisoner "threw a brickbat at the said Judge, which narrowly missed". The marginal note for this case became legendary in the legal world for its "Law French" description of the event: "le prisoner ject un brickbat a le dit Justice que narrowly mist" . Transition to Metaphor