brush aside

ignore something like criticism or concerns as not important

What does "brush sth aside" mean?

To brush aside something means to treat a concern, criticism, or objection as though it has no real importance and does not deserve serious attention. The phrase is most often used to describe how someone in a position of power — a politician, an executive, or an official — dismisses challenges or opposition without genuinely engaging with them. Crucially, the phrase carries a negative tone: when a writer says someone brushed aside concerns, there is usually an implied criticism that the dismissal was unwarranted, arrogant, or irresponsible. You will encounter it frequently in journalism and political reporting, where it serves as a pointed way of describing high-handed behaviour. It is rarely used in casual conversation — its natural home is formal or semi-formal writing.

Examples

The CEO brushed aside concerns about the merger, insisting it would benefit shareholders.
She brushed their objections aside and proceeded with the plan.
The committee's warnings were brushed aside by the minister, who called them alarmist.

How to use it

brush aside + noun phrase

The most common structure, where the object (typically an abstract noun like criticism, concerns, or objections) follows the particle. This is the default word order for longer or more complex objects.

The minister brushed aside warnings from leading scientists, calling them overstated.

brush + pronoun + aside

When the object is a pronoun such as it, them, this, or that, it must go between the verb and the particle.

Reporters raised several objections, but the spokesperson brushed them aside without explanation.

cannot / refuse to + brush aside + noun phrase

Modal constructions are frequently used to suggest that concerns should not or cannot be legitimately dismissed.

The board cannot simply brush aside allegations of this magnitude.

noun phrase + be brushed aside (passive)

The passive is occasionally used in formal or journalistic contexts, typically to foreground what was dismissed rather than who dismissed it.

The committee's recommendations were brushed aside without so much as a formal response.

try to / attempt to + brush aside + noun phrase

This construction is common when describing a deliberate effort to dismiss something, often with the implication that the attempt is questionable or unsuccessful.

The governor tried to brush aside questions about the contract, but journalists pressed further.

Common Collocations

brush aside criticismbrush aside concernsbrush aside objectionsbrush aside allegationsbrush aside warningsbrush aside questions

Common Mistakes

Using 'brush aside' to dismiss a person

'Brush aside' dismisses ideas, concerns, objections, or criticism — not people directly. To describe dismissing a person or snubbing someone who is trying to engage with you, use 'brush off' instead.

✗ He brushed aside his colleague when she tried to raise the issue.

✓ He brushed off his colleague when she tried to raise the issue. / He brushed aside his colleague's concerns.

Separating the verb with a long noun phrase

Separation sounds awkward when the object is a long or complex noun phrase. Keep long objects after 'aside', and reserve separation for short pronouns.

✗ The CEO brushed all concerns about the environmental impact of the project aside.

✓ The CEO brushed aside all concerns about the environmental impact of the project.

Using a continuous tense

'Brush aside' describes a deliberate, momentary act of dismissal rather than an ongoing process, so continuous tenses sound unnatural. Use the simple past, present perfect, or a modal construction instead.

✗ The director was brushing aside every objection we raised.

✓ The director brushed aside every objection we raised.

Usage

This phrasal verb is formal and appears mainly in journalism and political writing. It nearly always implies the dismissal was unwarranted or high-handed, so it typically carries a critical tone toward the person doing the brushing aside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'brush aside' always suggest the person was wrong to dismiss something?

Almost always, yes. The phrase carries a built-in critical tone, implying that the dismissal was cavalier, arrogant, or unwarranted. If you want to describe a dismissal neutrally or approvingly, a word like 'set aside' or 'dismiss' might be a better fit.

What kinds of things can be brushed aside — can it be used with people?

The object is nearly always an abstract noun representing criticism, opposition, or a challenge — things like concerns, allegations, objections, warnings, or questions. It is not used to describe dismissing a person directly; for that, 'brush off' is the right choice.

Can 'brush aside' be used in the passive?

Yes, though it is less common than the active form. The passive works well in formal written contexts, particularly in journalism, when the focus is on what was dismissed rather than who dismissed it — for example, 'The safety concerns were brushed aside by the regulator.'

Is 'brush aside' mainly a British English expression?

No, it is used in both British and American English, particularly in formal journalism and political writing. There is no significant regional restriction on its use.

Does 'brush aside' have other meanings I should know about?

This sense — dismissing concerns or criticism as unimportant — is the dominant meaning in formal contexts. The same words can occasionally describe a literal physical gesture, but this is rare and the figurative sense is overwhelmingly more common. Other senses of 'brush aside' are handled separately on this platform.

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