brush-off

[bruhsh-awf, -of]

noun

1. a refusal to talk or listen to someone; abrupt or final dismissal or rebuff.

brush off

verb

1. to dismiss and ignore (a person), esp curtly

noun

1. an abrupt dismissal or rejection

Word History and Origins

Origin of brush off¹

1945–50, noun use of verb phrase brush off

Idioms and Phrases

Dismiss or rebuff, as in Roberta brushed off the poor reviews with a shrug, or You can't brush off a boyfriend and expect him to do you a favor. This expression, transferring sweeping off crumbs to a curt dismissal, was first recorded about 1820. However, it became common usage only in the 1930s. Also see give someone the air (brush off).

Example Sentences

Walz's camp shared a statement on the president's brush-off, saying that it was not the time to score points off your political enemies.

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Vice President JD Vance set the stage for a potential brush-off of the judicial branch earlier this month, saying that the Trump admin may well ignore orders they don't agree with.

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That gentle brush-off didn't keep Trump from congratulating the couple on Thursday after the birth of their youngest daughter.

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"I was told that things would be looked into. It was very vague. It was a brush-off."

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“You’re not on the list,” he was told twice by a Troubadour doorman, and given the brush-off.

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