pavement

hit the bricks

1. To depart, often on foot. We don't need any troublemakers around here, so hit the bricks, fella. I think it's time for us to hit the bricks.
2. To begin or take part in a strike. This usage is primarily heard in the US. The workers hit the bricks again after the company implemented a unilateral pay cut to all employees.
See also: brick, hit

hit the pavement

1. To walk outside, especially on the streets or sidewalk. I need to get out, hit the pavement, and start looking for a job.
2. To begin or take part in a strike. The workers hit the pavement again after the company implemented a unilateral pay cut to all employees.
See also: hit, pavement

pound the pavement

To walk along the sidewalk or streets, especially to look for employment. I know you want a job to magically fall in your lap, but you need to pound the pavement and look for a "help wanted" sign.
See also: pavement, pound
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hit the bricks

 and hit the pavement 
1. Fig. Inf. to start walking; to go into the streets. I have a long way to go. I'd better hit the bricks. Go on! Hit the pavement! Get going!
2. Inf. Fig. to go out on strike. The workers hit the pavement on Friday and haven't been back on the job since. Agree to our demands, or we hit the bricks.
See also: brick, hit

pound the pavement

Fig. to walk through the streets looking for a job. I spent two months pounding the pavement after the factory I worked for dosed. Hey, Bob. You'd better get busy pounding those nails unless you want to be out pounding the pavement.
See also: pavement, pound
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

hit the bricks

Go out on strike, as in The union voted to hit the bricks as soon as their contract expired. [Slang; 1940s]
See also: brick, hit

pound the pavement

Walk the streets, especially in search of employment. For example, He was fired last year and he's been pounding the pavement ever since. A similar usage is pound a beat, meaning "to walk a particular route over and over"; it is nearly always applied to a police officer. [Early 1900s]
See also: pavement, pound
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

hit the bricks

AMERICAN, INFORMAL
If workers hit the bricks, they stop work in order to protest about something. Toronto's 7,500 secondary teachers voted in favour of hitting the bricks.
See also: brick, hit
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

hit the bricks

go on strike. US informal
See also: brick, hit

pound the pavement

move about on foot at a steady, regular pace in a town or city.
1992 New York Times Put yourself in the shoes of someone who…is now out pounding the pavement wondering what to settle for in a low-wage job.
See also: pavement, pound
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hit the bricks

and hit the pavement
1. tv. to start walking; to go into the streets. I have a long way to go. I’d better hit the bricks.
2. tv. to go out on strike. The workers hit the pavement on Friday and haven’t been back on the job since.
See also: brick, hit

hit the pavement

verb
See hit the bricks
See also: hit, pavement
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

hit the bricks

Slang
To go on strike.
See also: brick, hit

pound the pavement

Slang
To travel the streets on foot, especially in search of work.
See also: pavement, pound
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • hit the bricks
  • hit (one) like a ton of bricks
  • hit out for (some place)
  • hit it with (one)
  • hit it with someone
  • hit with (something)
  • hit the books
  • hit off
  • hit it off
  • hit it off with
References in periodicals archive
Unlock new opportunities in Pavement Marking Paint Market; the latest release from HTF MI highlights the key market trends impacting the growth of the Pavement Marking Paint market
Global Update Pavement Marking Paint Market is Growing Worldwide / TATU, Nippon Paint, KICTEC
'Pavement: only two worldwide shows in 2020,' announced the Primavera Sound festival on Saturday, saying the American band would play the Barcelona fest and its sister event in Porto.
Pavement to play 2020 reunion shows
Nowadays, the methods used for pavement design still are empirical and based on experiments conducted in the 1960s.
The effect of axle load spectra from AASHTO method on flexible pavement performance
"So we are asking Bratislavans for tolerance, patience and, within their possibilities, also for help with pavement snow removal in front of their houses in case of a calamitous situation."So far Bratisalvans have been able to report problematic stretches of pavements at dispecing@bratislava.
Bratislava is unable to secure snow removal this winter
The survey by online parking portal YOURPARKINGSPACE.co.uk found that more than one in 10 respondents would like to slap a fine of up to PS100 on pavement parkers.
Tougher action on pavement parking - survey; motors
Blowups, buckling, and rutting are just a few ways that weather and climate impact pavement structural and functional performance.
Boosting Pavement Resilience
According to a Guide Dogs survey, 97 per cent of blind and partially-sighted people have encountered obstacles on the pavement. The most common obstacles are cars parked on the pavement, with nine in 10 struggling with this.
MP backs drive to keep streets safe for sight-impaired
Images posted on social media show at least seven cars parked fully on the pavement around Waddicar Lane, in Melling, Sefton.
Police warning to dozy parkers
Pavement parking is a huge issue on Merseyside and last year the Liverpool ECHO campaigned with local people for stricter laws to be brought in to punish selfish drivers who make the lives of others harder.
These photos show that pavement parking in our region is still out of control; Merseyside Police are threatening to come down hard on selfish drivers
23 May 2018 - New York, US-based pavement installation and maintenance services provider Advanced Pavement Group has acquired Richard's Paving, Inc.
Advanced Pavement Group Acquires Richard's Paving, Refined Products Co
ABOUT 175 local, regional and international experts and practitioners in the area of design and construction of sustainable pavement systems gathered in Doha for the Advances in Materials and Pavement Prediction (AM3P) conference.
Texas A&M at Qatar holds AM3P conference
Presently, decision-making on haulage routes is made without cognisance of the impact of pavement condition on the operating costs of a haul truck fleet.
Haul road rolling resistance and pavement condition
Read, of the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), says it will end the scourge of pavement parking once and for all.
Inventor claims new gadget will put end to selfish pavement parking by giving car drivers FLAT TYRES if they mount kerb; Yannick Read, 47, of Bristol, has created the 'Catclaw' and says it will save lives and could even stop terror attacks
The Portland Cement Association (PCA), American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) and the RMC Research & Education Foundation have teamed to create PavementDesigner.
Industry Groups Launch Cloud-Enabled Design Platform