Brush Off – Meaning and Examples
Has someone ever given you bad news and you didn’t let it worry you? You brushed it off. This common idiom means to treat something as unimportant or to ignore a person or problem. Learning brush off will help you talk about dismissing issues or dealing with rudeness.
What Does “Brush Off” Mean?
“Brush off” has two main meanings. It can mean to dismiss something as not important or not serious. It can also mean to ignore or be rude to someone, often by ending a conversation quickly.
Think of it like this: You literally brush dust off your shoulder because it’s a small, unimportant thing. Similarly, you can brush off a critical comment. Or, if someone tries to talk to you and you walk away, you brush them off.
Remember, the tone can be either positive (resilient) or negative (rude), depending on the situation.
When to Use It
You can use this idiom in personal and social situations.
- Dismissing Criticism: “He brushed off the negative comments about his work.”
- Ignoring a Problem: “You can’t just brush off your health issues.”
- Being Rude: “I tried to ask her a question, but she just brushed me off.”
The tone is often informal and can be neutral, critical, or admiring.
Example Sentences
- She brushed off the accident as if it was nothing.
- Don’t brush off your friend’s feelings; they are important.
- The CEO brushed off the reporter’s tough questions.
- He brushed off the dirt from his pants.
Mini Dialogue
Mom: “Aren’t you upset that you didn’t get the promotion?”
Son: “I’m a little disappointed, but I’m trying to brush it off. There will be other opportunities.”
Mom: “That’s a healthy way to look at it. Just don’t brush off your own hard work.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The main mistake is confusing “brush off” with “brush up.” “Brush up” means to improve a skill you haven’t used in a while.
❌ Don’t say: “I need to brush off my Spanish before my trip.”
✅ Do say: “I need to brush up on my Spanish before my trip.” OR “I brushed off the dust from my old Spanish textbook.”
Practice Tip
The next time a small problem or criticism comes up, try to have a positive reaction. You can tell a friend, “I’m just going to brush it off.” This helps you practice the “dismiss as unimportant” meaning.
Final Note
This idiom is useful for talking about resilience and also about social interactions. It helps you describe not letting small things bother you, but it can also describe unkind behavior. Pay attention to the context to understand the meaning.
