Cool MateHe's shitting bricks vs Worried
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
He's shitting bricks
SlangBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Worried
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Most formal: WorriedMost common: Worried
| He's shitting bricks | Worried | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ʃɪtɪŋ brɪks//🇺🇸 //ʃɪtɪŋ brɪks// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌrid/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwɜːrid/"]/ |
| Meaning | He's very worried or scared. | Feeling anxious or concerned about something. |
| Example | When he realized the exam was today, he started shitting bricks. | She is worried about her exam results. |
| Register | Slang | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | shitting bricks with fear, shitting bricks about something, shitting bricks over a test | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, worried sick |
| Antonyms | - | calm, untroubled, carefree |
| Common mistakes | Confused with the literal meaning of bricks., Used in formal settings where it's inappropriate., Not used correctly in similar phrases like 'he's cracking up'. | 'Worried of' instead of 'worried about', Confusing 'worried' with 'worriedly' (the adverb form), 'Worry' as a noun instead of using the adjective 'worried' |
| Usage notes | Used informally to express extreme anxiety. Not suitable for formal contexts or written communication. | Use 'worried' in situations of concern or anxiety. It's suitable for both casual and more serious contexts. Avoid using it in overly formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: He's shitting bricks vs Worried
What's the difference between He's shitting bricks and Worried?
He's shitting bricks: He's very worried or scared. Worried: Feeling anxious or concerned about something.
Which is more formal: He's shitting bricks and Worried?
Worried is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: He's shitting bricks and Worried?
Worried is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
He's shitting bricks: When he realized the exam was today, he started shitting bricks. Worried: She is worried about her exam results.
Can I use He's shitting bricks and Worried interchangeably?
Not always. He's shitting bricks and Worried are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.