construction

• Dead as a doornail

  To be completely and utterly lifeless, defunct, or beyond repair.

• Brick by brick

  To build or achieve something steadily and systematically, one small step at a time.

• Lay the groundwork

  To perform the essential preliminary work or preparations necessary for a future undertaking or development.

• To be up against a brick wall

  To encounter an insurmountable obstacle or a complete lack of progress in a situation.

• From the ground up

  To build, create, or develop something completely from its very beginning, without relying on existing structures or components.

• A crack in the foundation

  A fundamental flaw or weakness that threatens the overall stability or integrity of a system, plan, or relationship.

• Nailed down

  To definitively secure, finalize, or confirm a detail, plan, or agreement, making it fixed and certain.

• Papering over the cracks

  To hide problems or difficulties with superficial solutions instead of dealing with them properly.

• Prop up

  To support something or someone, often temporarily, to prevent it from falling, collapsing, or failing.

• Shore up

  To provide support or strength to something that is weak, failing, or in danger of collapse, often to prevent further deterioration.