the brush-off
3
7.0
- idiom
- /ðə brʌʃ ɔf/
- Informal
:
desaire
- He received the brush-off when he tried to ask for help with his project.
- gave him the brush-off
- gets the brush-off
Examples
-
When she casually dismissed my invitation, it felt like nothing more than a brush-off.
-
After being ignored multiple times, I finally felt like I was getting the brush-off from my friends.
-
Think I better give her the brush off.
-
We're going to give her the brush off.
-
I think I got the brush-off.
-
So you gave her the brush-off six months ago, huh?
-
The whole family is giving me the brush-off.
-
I know when i'm getting the brush-off.
-
I didn't expect to get the brush-off like that!
-
I say don't give me the brush-off.
Synonyms
8
4.6
To ignore someone on purpose to show you dislike them
5
6.0
A cold short reply that shows no interest
Antonyms
How Dismissive
- Literature
7
8.2
- Informal
8
4.6
- Informal
3
7.0
180
3.0
272
3.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
the + brush-off
The idea of ‘brushing something off’ (removing by brushing) maps metaphorically onto dismissing or ignoring someone, so a learner who knows ‘brush’ and ‘off’ can plausibly infer the general sense. However, the specific idiomatic nuance of a curt, interpersonal rejection and the nominalised form 'the brush-off' may not be fully predictable without prior exposure, so it is not fully transparent.
Etymology
The brush-off may come from the image of someone using a brush to sweep something off their shoulder, as if that person or idea is not worth attention. That's why it now means 'a quick, rude rejection'.