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In New York City, locals have a slang they commonly use, where they say “it’s brick outside”, which is used to describe the weather as cold. From the informant’s understanding, it came from the idea that during winter, the bricks of many New York homes (since brick townhouses are common in the city) get very cold due to the fact that they have little to no base insulation. As such, the slang is drawing a comparison to say that the general feeling of being cold is similar to touching a cold brick.

Context

The informant is 21 year old USC student pursuing a double major in finance & accounting, and East Asian languages and culture. He is a NY local born and raised, and says that the slang was just something he picked up naturally from living there. I had recently seen a video of New Yorkers and noticed their distinct accent and slang, and asked the informant if he would be open to sharing any New York slang he used.

Analysis

Among the many New York slangs that exist, “brick” stands out to me for its folkloric and regional significance. The origin of “brick” being based on the regional climate of New York and city’s distinct architecture of brick townhouses makes it a perfect representation of the city’s defining characteristics. Additionally, the fact that the informant picked up the slang naturally from living in the city shows the slang has been integrated within the city seamlessly, and is another example of how folk speech can be passed on informally and become a part of everyday routine.

To add, when considering that this slang is essentially a metaphor that compares the weather to how cold bricks get, the way this slang is used in simple, short phrases (i.e “it’s brick outside”) rather than longer simile-like phrases (i.e “it’s as cold as a brick outside”) also demonstrates New York culture, in my opinion. In such a crowded and bustling city like New York, locals are often known to be very fast talkers and this slang and how it is used in sentences match the fast-paced culture of the city.