come down like a ton of bricks
1. To fall or collapse violently and often unexpectedly. We must have been missing some screws when we built the bookshelf because it just came down like a ton of bricks!
2. slang To punish someone swiftly and harshly. When I was caught cheating on a test, the principal came down like a ton of bricks on me.
come down like a ton of bricks
exert crushing weight, force, or authority against someone. informal