brush someone off

Meaning

To brush someone off means to refuse to listen to them, dismiss them, or ignore them in a quick, often rude way. It is commonly used when someone wants to end a conversation or avoid dealing with another person's feelings or requests. The tone is casual and usually carries a negative connotation of being dismissed or ignored.

Examples

• I tried to talk to him about our argument, but he just brushed me off and walked away.

  I tried to talk to him about our argument, but he just brushed me off and walked away.

• Don't brush her off like that; she's genuinely trying to help you.

  Don't brush her off like that; she's genuinely trying to help you.

• She asked him out on a date, but he brushed her off, saying he was too busy.

  She asked him out on a date, but he brushed her off, saying he was too busy.

• Every time I bring up our future plans, my boyfriend brushes me off.

  Every time I bring up our future plans, my boyfriend brushes me off.

• I felt really hurt when my best friend brushed off my concerns about our friendship.

  I felt really hurt when my best friend brushed off my concerns about our friendship.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She brushed off me when I said hello.

  ✓ She brushed me off when I said hello.

  'Brush off' is a separable phrasal verb. When using a pronoun like 'me', 'him', or 'them', it must go between 'brush' and 'off'.

• ✗ He brushed away my suggestions.

  ✓ He brushed off my suggestions.

  While 'brush away' is used for physical things like tears or crumbs, 'brush off' is used for dismissing people or ideas.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I tried to apologize to Sarah, but she just ___.

  💡 dismissed me quickly

  Show answer

  brushed me off

• It's rude to ___ your friends when they are trying to talk to you.

  💡 ignore or dismiss

  Show answer

  brush off