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

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

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2025

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

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2024

We don’t know what happened exactly after this brush-off, but it’s clear that Josh didn’t give up because Nyswanderweg—Marie Nyswander Way—exists in Hamburg today.

From Scientific American • Jun. 1, 2023

Border experts were stunned by the president’s brush-off.

From Washington Times • Dec. 6, 2022

Saying good-bye at the end of a visit, Craig would give my dad a final, concerned look and pose the usual question about his health, only to be given the merry brush-off of “I’m fine.”

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama