brush (something) under the mat

To ignore, deny, or conceal from public view or knowledge something that is embarrassing, unappealing, or damaging to one's reputation. The senator has been accused of trying to brush his former drug use under the mat. You need to stop brushing your problems under the mat. Nothing will get resolved like that! I was so mortified by my mistake that I immediately tried to brush it under the mat.

brush against (someone or something)

To pass by and lightly touch someone or something. Be sure not to brush against this wall while the paint is still drying. Did you see the beautiful woman who just brushed against me? The room was so crowded that I ended up brushing against a bunch of people on my way to the refreshment table.

brush aside

1. To move someone or something out of one's path. A noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "aside." The man brushed us aside so that he could board the bus. I brushed aside the curtain and entered the room. Dad was so drained when he got home from work that he just brushed aside our toys and barely said hello on his way in the house.

2. To casually, unexpectedly, or brusquely dismiss or ignore someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "aside." I know they're young, but you can't just brush their questions aside—they deserve answers. I haven't heard back from that company, so I guess they're brushing aside my complaint. Sir, this is a serious, and credible, accusation. We can't just brush it aside—we need to get the Legal team involved.

See also: aside, brush

brush away

To remove something by applying a sweeping stroke to it or the surface it's on, typically with one's hand. A noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "away." I stood up and brushed the crumbs away from my shirt. A: "What are you doing?" B: "Sorry, I couldn't brush away the fuzzies on your sweater, so I had to pluck them off." Here, I have a tool you can use to brush away the cat hair on the upholstery.

brush back

1. To move something, as with a hairbrush or a brushing motion. A noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "back." I brushed back my bangs and secured them in place with a hair clip. My mom brushed back my hair, then divided it into three sections and began braiding. Considering how Johnny keeps brushing back his hair, it might be time to schedule his first haircut.

2. baseball To throw an inside pitch to force a batter to move away from home plate. A noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "back." The catcher called for an inside pitch to brush the batter back. The guy batting is a real hothead, so he'll probably charge the mound if they brush him back. I was just trying to brush back the batter—I didn't mean to hit him.

brush by (someone or something)

To quickly pass by and lightly touch someone or something. The man brushed by us so that he could board the bus. Be sure not to brush by this wall while the paint is still drying. The room was so crowded that I ended up brushing by a bunch of people on my way to the refreshment table.

brush down

To remove something from fabric by brushing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "down." I have three dogs, so I always have to brush down my clothes before I leave the house. Was the cat sitting there? Here, I have a tool you can use to brush down the upholstery. Good luck brushing down that fabric—pet hair always clings to it.

brush off

1. verb Literally, to remove something by applying a sweeping stroke to it or the surface it's on, typically with one's hand. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "off." Be sure to brush off that chair before you sit down. I stood up and brushed the crumbs off my shirt. A: "What are you doing?" B: "Sorry, I couldn't brush the fuzzies off your sweater, so I had to pull them off."

2. verb To casually, unexpectedly, or brusquely dismiss or ignore someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "off." You can't just brush off the students' questions—they deserve answers. I haven't heard back from that company, so I guess they're brushing my complaint off. Sir, this is a serious, and credible, accusation. We can't just brush it off—we need to get the Legal team involved.

3. verb To deflect or ignore something in order to remain unaffected by it. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "brush" and "off." If you're going to write for a major publication, you need to be able to brush off criticism. So you made an error—just brush it off and try to do better next inning. It's impressive how Jason is able to stay so positive and seemingly brush off any rejection or setback.

4. noun The act of casually, unexpectedly, or brusquely dismissing or ignoring someone or something. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Be honest and tell John that you're not interested in dating anymore—don't just give him the brush-off. I haven't heard back from that company, so I guess my complaint is getting the brush-off. I'm suspicious. If Al's giving me the brush-off, it's because he's done something wrong—I just don't know what it is yet.

See also: brush, off

brush over

To mention something casually, offering few details. You can't just brush over the fact that you got engaged—tell me everything! When I told Mom and Dad about my night, I just brushed over the fact that I'd gotten a parking ticket. You can tell they're trying to brush over the poor Q3 sales in their investors' earnings report.

brush past (someone or something)

To quickly pass by and lightly touch someone or something. The man brushed past us so that he could board the bus. Be sure not to brush past this wall while the paint is still drying. The room was so crowded that I ended up brushing past a bunch of people on my way to the refreshment table.

brush up

1. To refamiliarize oneself with a topic or issue. I need to brush up on factorials before attempting to teach them on Monday. She said she was going to the library to brush up on the nominative case because there's a Latin exam later today. Be sure to brush up on the key points before the debate.

2. To improve the appearance of something. We need to brush up this old house before any prospective buyers get here. I've been hearing rumors that there are going to be company-wide layoffs soon. Better start brushing up my résumé. The time has come—I'm finally going to brush up our storefront and incorporate a more modern logo.

See also: brush, up

brush over someone or something

Fig. to deal lightly with an important person or matter; to just barely mention someone or something. I want to hear more. You only brushed over the part I was interested in. You only brushed over the bit about your girlfriend. Tell us more about her.

brush someone off

1. Lit. to remove something, such as dust or lint, from someone by brushing. The bathroom attendant brushed Mr. Harris off and was rewarded with a small tip. The porter had never brushed off such a miserly man before.

2. Fig. to reject someone; to dismiss someone. (As if someone were mere lint.) He brushed her off, telling her she had no appointment. He brushed off Mrs. Franklin, who was only trying to be nice to him.

See also: brush, off

brush someone or something aside

1. Lit. to push or shove someone or something out of the way. Don't just brush me aside. I almost fell over. I brushed aside the branch, not realizing it was poison ivy.

2. Fig. to cast someone or something away; to rid oneself of someone or something; to ignore or dismiss someone or something. You must not brush this matter aside. The clerk brushed aside the old man and moved on to the next person in line.

See also: aside, brush

brush something away (from something)

to remove something from something by brushing; to get dirt or crumbs off something by brushing. He brushed a bit of lint away from Tom's collar. She brushed away the crumbs from the table.

brush something down

to clean and groom fur or fabric by brushing. Why don't you brush your coat down? It's very linty. I brushed down my trousers, and they looked much better.

brush something off someone or something

and brush something off

to remove something from someone or something by brushing. I brushed a little lint off her collar. I brushed off the lint that was on her collar.

See also: brush, off

brush something up

to improve one's knowledge of something or one's ability to do something. (See also brush up (on something).) I need to brush my French up a little bit. I need to brush up my French.

See also: brush, up

brush up (on something)

to improve one's knowledge of something or one's ability to do something. I need to brush up on my German. My German is weak. I had better brush up.

See also: brush, up

brush aside

Disregard, ignore, as in The teacher brushed aside our questions.

See also: aside, brush

brush off

Dismiss or rebuff, as in Roberta brushed off the poor reviews with a shrug, or You can't brush off a boyfriend and expect him to do you a favor. This expression, transferring sweeping off crumbs to a curt dismissal, was first recorded about 1820. However, it became common usage only in the 1930s. Also see give someone the air (brush off).

See also: brush, off

brush up

1. Clean, refurbish, as in We plan to get the house brushed up in time for the party. [c. 1600]

2. Also, brush up on. Review, refresh one's memory, as in Nell brushed up on her Spanish before going to Honduras, or I'm brushing up my knowledge of town history before I speak at the club. [Late 1700s]

See also: brush, up

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

brush aside

1. To push or wave something or someone out of the way: I brushed aside the clutter and put my books on the desk. The police brushed the people aside to make way for the president.

2. To refuse to listen to someone or something; ignore someone or something: I continued to complain, but they brushed aside my protests. Whenever people try to bother me at a party, I just brush them aside.

See also: aside, brush

brush back

1. To displace something with or as if with a brush: I brushed back my curly locks from in front of my eyes. Your hair looks better when you brush it back.

2. Baseball To force someone at bat to move away from the plate by throwing an inside pitch: Some pitchers try to brush back the batter on their first pitch. The pitcher decided to intimidate the batter and brushed him back.

brush off

1. To remove something from a surface by brushing: Brush off those crumbs from the breakfast table! There's some dust on the desk, but I'll just brush it off.

2. To clean or clear some surface by brushing it: Would you please brush off the picnic table?

3. To dismiss someone or something rudely: The store owner rudely brushed off the customer who wanted a refund. I'm mad that you brushed me off when I tried to make a helpful suggestion.

See also: brush, off

brush up

1. To collect or dispose of something by a using a brush: I brushed up the crumbs from the table. The kids brushed the leaves up into a pile and played in it.

2. To refresh something or improve its quality or appearance, especially superficially or modestly: You could brush up your resume with a few style changes. I haven't spoken Italian in many years, but if I brushed it up a little, I think I could speak very well.

3. brush up on To refresh or improve one's facility with something: I brushed up on my Spanish by reading newspapers from Mexico.

See also: brush, up

See also: