bricks and mortar

noun

1. 1. a building or buildings

      he invested in bricks and mortar rather than stocks and shares

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bricks-and-mortar fortune

2. 1. a physical business premises rather than an internet presence
   2. ( as modifier )

      bricks-and-mortar firms

Idioms and Phrases

Basic and essential, as in Matthew Arnold's essay (1865): “Margate, that bricks-and-mortar image of British Protestantism.” This phrase transfers essential building materials to other fundamental matters. It also may be used more literally to denote a building or buildings (whether or not made of bricks and mortar), as in The alumni prefer to see their donations in the form of bricks and mortar . [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

I told the homeowner that my money was on her chimney bricks and mortar.

From Seattle Times

South Korea played its ultimate cultural gamble, pumping investment not into bricks and mortar, but information technology and the fledgling pop culture industries it was enabling; pop music, fashion, cosmetics, TV and film.

From National Geographic

It also said it would continue to focus on bricks and mortar branches.

From BBC

Republicans and conservatives questioned why the government should pay workers to create culture, as opposed to assembling bricks and mortar — although Federal One accounted for a minuscule half of 1% of the WPA’s total budget from its launch in 1935 through its shutdown in 1939.

From Los Angeles Times

While WFH spells pain for investors in bricks and mortar, employees like drone operator Coomber can only see benefits: flexible work arrangements recently allowed him and his wife to keep working for two weeks when their children were too sick to attend childcare.

From Reuters