brush someone off

brush someone off
brush someone off
1. Lit. to remove something, such as dust or lint, from someone by brushing. •

The bathroom attendant brushed Mr. Harris off and was rewarded with a small tip.

The porter had never brushed off such a miserly man before.

2. Fig. to reject someone; to dismiss someone. (As if someone were mere lint.) •

He brushed her off, telling her she had no appointment.

He brushed off Mrs. Franklin, who was only trying to be nice to him.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • 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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