hit like a ton of bricks

English

hit like a ton of bricks (third-person singular simple present hits like a ton of bricks, present participle hitting like a ton of bricks, simple past and past participle hit like a ton of bricks)

(transitive, idiomatic) To have a sudden and significant emotional impact.
His depression hit him like a ton of bricks.
- 2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:
  “For any decent, law-abiding citizen, there is no honour in this. None at all. You are a bad man, Mr Goodie. And, worst of all, a bad dad. A very bad dad.” That hit Gilbert like a ton of bricks. He looked over to his son with tears in his eyes, as the judge announced the sentence. “Gilbert Goodie, I sentence you to ten years in prison!”