Bricked up

In the UK, this means suffering from constipation.

The term relates to permanently close an entrance, exit or window by filling it up with brickwork. It links to constipation as the rectum and lower bowel may be packed with solid, dry faeces like mud bricks. The exit or passage way here is completely blocked, just like a bricked up doorway.

This original meaning seems to have been lost in translation as it crossed the Atlantic. Much like the American term “bussin” which appears to be a bad transfer of the UK term “buzzin” which relates to experiencing a high from either narcotics or dopamine.

I’m bricked up. I haven’t had a bowel movement in days.