brush off

ignore or refuse to listen to someone in a rude way

C1

What does "brush sb off" mean?

To brush someone or something off is to dismiss them in a way that signals they are not worth your time or attention — often abruptly and with a degree of contempt. The phrase implies more than a simple refusal; it suggests the person being dismissed is made to feel unimportant or irrelevant. You might brush off a question you find inconvenient, brush off a warning you think is unnecessary, or brush off a person who is trying to raise a concern. The connotation is always somewhat negative: the subject is not politely declining to engage but actively treating the other person or their words as beneath consideration. The phrase appears frequently in journalism and political reporting to describe how public figures respond to uncomfortable scrutiny.

Examples

How to use it

brush off + object (noun phrase)

The most common pattern — the object is typically a question, criticism, concern, allegation, or request that is being dismissed.

The minister brushed off questions about the leaked documents and moved on quickly.

brush + pronoun + off

When the object is a pronoun, it must sit between the verb and the particle — placing it after 'off' is incorrect.

Reporters raised concerns about the budget cuts, but the spokesperson brushed them off.

brush + person + off

Used when the object is a person rather than an abstract thing — implies the person was treated dismissively rather than just their words.

She tried to discuss the problem with her supervisor, but he brushed her off without even looking up.

be brushed off (passive)

The passive is natural and commonly used to shift focus to the person or thing that was dismissed — particularly in journalism and formal reporting.

The union's safety concerns were brushed off by management ahead of the inspection.

brush off + -ing / brush off + noun phrase (calls, attempts, offers)

Used with abstract nouns describing actions or efforts, often in political or professional contexts.

The director brushed off calls for an independent review, insisting the process was already transparent.

Common Collocations

brush off criticismbrush off questionsbrush off concernsbrush off allegationsbrush off warningsbrush off complaints

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placed after the particle

When the object is a pronoun like 'it', 'them', or 'her', it must go between 'brush' and 'off', not after 'off'. This is a firm rule with separable phrasal verbs.

✗ She tried to make a complaint, but they brushed off her.
✓ She tried to make a complaint, but they brushed her off.
Confusing 'brush off' with 'shrug off'

'Shrug off' suggests emotional resilience — not letting something affect you — without implying rudeness. 'Brush off' specifically implies an abrupt, contemptuous dismissal of someone or something. They are not always interchangeable.

✗ He was very polite about it — he just shrugged off the journalist's allegations and offered to discuss them later.
✓ He was dismissive and rude — he brushed off the journalist's allegations without any explanation.
Using 'brush off' for a polite refusal

Because 'brush off' carries a connotation of contempt or rudeness, it sounds odd or unintentionally critical if used to describe a polite or reasonable refusal. Use 'turn down' or 'decline' for neutral rejections.

✗ She brushed off the invitation very graciously, thanking them for thinking of her.
✓ She declined the invitation very graciously, thanking them for thinking of her.

Usage

This phrasal verb always implies a rude or contemptuous dismissal, not just a polite refusal — use it when someone treats another person's words or concerns as unworthy of attention. It is neutral in register and equally common in spoken conversation and written journalism.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'brush off' always mean something rude or negative?

Yes — the connotation of rudeness or contempt is central to this sense of 'brush off'. It implies the person doing the dismissing considers the other person or their words unworthy of proper engagement. If you want to describe a neutral or polite refusal, a word like 'decline' or 'turn down' would be more appropriate.

What kinds of things can you 'brush off'?

Typical objects include questions, criticism, concerns, allegations, warnings, complaints, suggestions, and calls for action. You can also brush off a person — meaning you treat them dismissively rather than just ignoring what they said. The object is usually something that deserves a response but is being deliberately avoided.

Is 'brush off' the same as 'brush aside'?

'Brush aside' is a close synonym and is used in very similar contexts, but it tends to sound slightly more formal and is often used with abstract obstacles or objections rather than people. 'Brush off' carries a stronger sense of deliberate rudeness or contempt and is more commonly used to describe dismissing a person directly.

Can 'brush off' be used in the passive?

Yes, the passive is very natural with 'brush off' and is especially common in journalism. It shifts the focus to whoever or whatever was dismissed — for example, 'Her concerns were brushed off without any explanation.' This construction is a good choice when the person being dismissed is the main subject of the sentence.

Is there a noun form related to 'brush off'?

Yes — the phrase 'give someone the brush-off' is the most common noun-based equivalent, meaning to dismiss or rebuff someone. For example: 'She asked him for a meeting, but he gave her the brush-off.' It carries the same connotation of abrupt or contemptuous rejection.

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