Page 26 - Conversation 3

(13) Brick by brick

Introduction

Here’s a phrase that is about doing things gradually. Learn how to use it in this programme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240318

Transcript

Phil
Welcome to Authentic Real English, with me Phil…

Feifei
And me, Feifei.

Phil
We have a phrase which is about building something up carefully, or taking it apart – it’s ‘brick
by brick’.

Feifei
‘Brick by brick’. This sounds like something related to construction.

Phil
It can be, but actually we often use it more metaphorically, especially where we can use the verb
'build' in that way. So, for example, my brother is really proud of his business. He built it brick-
by-brick.

Feifei
So, your brother's job has nothing to do with building, has it?

Phil
No, he's an accountant. It's his company that he built. He grew it carefully and gradually and now
it's really successful.

Feifei
Your brother built his success brick-by-brick! You also said that it can be used for taking things
apart?

Phil
Yes, that's right. If you take a house apart brick-by-brick you are doing it carefully enough that it
could be rebuilt somewhere else. Again, it's not just literal – if you're trying to disprove someone,
you can take their argument apart brick by brick.

Feifei
That would when you carefully argue against each of the points someone has made.