ENGLISH
REFERENCE

brush down

idiom
Meaning

To straighten up one's clothes and to tidy up one's appearance.


Examples
SIMPLE

He stopped to brush down his coat before the interview.

CONTEXTUAL

After walking through the dusty construction site, she took a moment to brush down her suit before meeting the client.

COMPLEX

Upon arriving at the gala, he paused in the foyer to brush down his tuxedo, ensuring he looked presentable for the evening's formal proceedings.

Anchors to
Related idioms7entries
  1. 01

    broad brush

    A style or approach that deals with something in very general, sweeping terms, without attention to fine details or subtle nuances.

  2. 02

    brush aside

    To disregard, dismiss or ignore something, as unimportant.

  3. 03

    brush by

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

  4. 04

    brush off

    To disregard (something), to dismiss or ignore (someone), as unimportant.

  5. 05

    brush up

    To review; to improve an existing but rusty or underdeveloped skill.

  6. 06

    live over the brush

    To cohabit without being married.

  7. 07

    paint with a broad brush

    To describe a class of objects or a kind of phenomenon in general terms, without specific details and without attention to individual variations.

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