brush off
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Phrasal Verb:
- To dismiss, ignore, or reject someone or something in a casual, abrupt, or unceremonious way: To treat a person, suggestion, criticism, or problem as unimportant and not worthy of serious attention or consideration.
Usage and Examples
- General Usage: Used to describe the act of ending an interaction or disregarding an idea without giving it proper thought or respect.
- She tried to apologize, but he just brushed her off.
- The manager brushed off our concerns about the deadline.
- With an Object: The object (the person or thing being dismissed) can come between "brush" and "off" or after "off."
- He brushed the reporter's question off.
- He brushed off the reporter's question.
Advanced Usage and Nuance
- Connotation: Often implies a degree of rudeness, indifference, or a desire to avoid an uncomfortable subject. It suggests the action was done quickly and without ceremony.
- Despite the serious allegations, the CEO brushed them off as baseless rumors.
- Figurative Use: Can be applied to abstract concepts like criticism, worries, or feelings.
- You can't just brush off your responsibilities.
Variants and Related Words
- Brush-off (noun): A clear, often rude, act of rejection or dismissal.
- After waiting for an hour, I got the brush-off from the receptionist.
- Dismiss: A more formal synonym, often used in official or serious contexts.
- Ignore: To refuse to take notice of; may lack the connotation of an active, verbal dismissal present in "brush off."
Synonyms
- Dismiss
- Ignore
- Disregard
- Shrug off
- Wave aside
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Shrug off: To treat something as unimportant or easy to manage. Similar to "brush off" but can imply minimizing the significance of something (e.g., an insult or injury).
- He shrugged off the criticism and continued with his project.
Related Idioms
- Give someone the cold shoulder: To intentionally ignore someone or be unfriendly toward them. This is more about personal snubbing than dismissing a topic.
- Turn a deaf ear: To refuse to listen to something, such as a request or advice.
Verb
- bar from attention or consideration
- She dismissed his advances