# brush by

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/brush-by
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To walk past another person, touching them slightly, normally by accident, and ignoring them.

## Examples

- He brushed by me in the hallway without saying sorry.
- The crowd was so thick that people constantly brushed by me while I waited for the train.
- She hurried through the busy station, barely noticing the strangers who brushed by her as she rushed to catch the final departure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.