# brush off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brush-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to ignore someone or something because you think they are not important. You use this when you refuse to listen to a person or an idea.

For teachers: to dismiss or ignore someone or something curtly or with little consideration. The verb is transitive and functions both literally and figuratively.

## Examples

- He brushes off my advice every time I try to help.
- The manager brushed off the employees' complaints about the broken coffee machine, saying there were more important things to do.
- The diplomat attempted to brush off the pointed questions from the press, but the persistent scrutiny eventually forced a formal statement from the embassy.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He brushed off it." but "He brushed it off." — When the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is optionally separable, but you must put pronouns like 'it' or 'him' in the middle.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'shrug off', which suggests the subject is unaffected by something, whereas 'brush off' suggests an active dismissal of another person's input.

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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.