brush off something

brush off something
brush off (someone/something) to not accept someone or something as being important.

When she told me my project would be a better television film than a feature film, I thought she was brushing me off.

But the prime minister brushed off that criticism, saying it was just talk.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of brush something off (= to remove something from a surface by moving your hand quickly over it)

New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • brush off — verb bar from attention or consideration She dismissed his advances • Syn: ↑dismiss, ↑disregard, ↑brush aside, ↑discount, ↑push aside, ↑ignore • Derivationally related forms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • brush off someone — brush off (someone/something) to not accept someone or something as being important. When she told me my project would be a better television film than a feature film, I thought she was brushing me off. But the prime minister brushed off that… …   New idioms dictionary

  • brush off — (someone/something) to not accept someone or something as being important. When she told me my project would be a better television film than a feature film, I thought she was brushing me off. But the prime minister brushed off that criticism,… …   New idioms dictionary

  • brush off — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms brush off : present tense I/you/we/they brush off he/she/it brushes off present participle brushing off past tense brushed off past participle brushed off to refuse to listen to someone, or to accept that… …   English dictionary

  • brush off — verb a) To remove something with a brush. b) To disregard (something), to dismiss or ignore (someone), as unimportant …   Wiktionary

  • brush — brush1 [brush] n. [ME brushe < OFr broce, brosse, bush, brushwood < VL * bruscia < Gmc * bruskaz, underbrush: for IE base see BREAST] 1. BRUSHWOOD ☆ 2. sparsely settled country, covered with wild scrub growth 3. a) a device having… …   English World dictionary

  • brush — Ⅰ. brush [1] ► NOUN 1) an implement with a handle and a block of bristles, hair, or wire, used especially for cleaning, smoothing, or painting. 2) an act of brushing. 3) a slight and fleeting touch. 4) a brief encounter with something bad or… …   English terms dictionary

  • scrub something off something — ˌscrub sthˈoff | scrub sth off sth derived to remove sth from the surface of an object by rubbing it hard with a brush, etc • This treatment involves scrubbing off the top layer of dead skin. Main entry: ↑scrubderived …   Useful english dictionary

  • brush — brush1 S3 [brʌʃ] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(object for cleaning/painting)¦ 2¦(trees)¦ 3¦(movement)¦ 4¦(touch)¦ 5 6¦(tail)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Sense: 1, 3 6; Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Early French broisse, from Old French broce ( …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • brush — brush1 [ brʌʃ ] noun ** ▸ 1 tool ▸ 2 light touch ▸ 3 short experience ▸ 4 fox s tail ▸ 5 trees/branches ▸ 6 use of a brush 1. ) count an object used for painting, cleaning things, or making your hair neat. It consists of a handle with stiff… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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