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• brush-off
  brush-off

  noun

  a refusal to talk or listen to someone; abrupt or final dismissal or rebuff.
• brush off
  brush off

  verb

  to dismiss and ignore (a person), esp curtly

brush-off

American  

[bruhsh-awf, -of] / ˈbrʌʃˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

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

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brush off British  

verb

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

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noun

1. an abrupt dismissal or rejection

brush off Idioms  

1. 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).

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Etymology

Origin of brush-off

1945–50, noun use of verb phrase brush off

Example Sentences

Earlier in the day, Wall Street appeared to brush off hotter-than-expected wholesale inflation data and comments from the president about the possible strikes.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Financial planners who brush off crypto and reject it outright risk alienating these potential clients.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

Blane might have to brush off Duckie’s occasional curtness, but that’s the extent of his woes.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

His job now is to keep the team and drivers on an even keel, to try to brush off the pressure and focus on the job in hand.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2025

So I brush off his mother’s concern, tell her it’s no big deal, then help her take the dishes out of the dishwasher.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan