English

Noun

brush off ‎(plural brush offs)

1. Alternative spelling of brush-off

Verb

brush off

1. Used other than as an idiom: see brush,‎ off. To remove something with a brush.
2. (idiomatic) To disregard (something), to dismiss or ignore (someone), as unimportant.
   • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “chapter XVIII”, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, OCLC 1227855:

     Again I begged her to keep an eye on her blood pressure and not get so worked up, and once more she brushed me off, this time with a curt request that I would go and boil my head.

3. To depart with a sweeping motion.
   • Goldsmith

     Snatching his hat, he brushed off like the wind.

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