brush (redirected from brushing off)

be as daft as a brush (British, informal)

if someone is as daft as a brush, they behave in a very silly way. I remember him as a kid and he was as daft as a brush then.

broad (brush) strokes

if you describe a situation with broad strokes, you describe it in a very general way without giving any details. The novel's historical background is filled in with broad brush strokes. In a few broad strokes he summed up his beliefs.

See also: broad, stroke

tar someone with the same brush

to believe wrongly that someone or something has the same bad qualities as someone or something that is similar. I admit that some football supporters do cause trouble but it's not fair that we're all being tarred with the same brush. (usually passive)

See also: same, tar

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brush aside someone/something

to not give someone or something serious consideration. I saw this happen, and you can't just call me crazy and brush me aside. Her friends worried that she might be arrested, but Nancy confidently brushed aside their concerns.

See also: aside

brush off someone/something

to not accept someone or something as being important. When she told me my project would be a better television film than a feature film, I thought she was brushing me off. But the prime minister brushed off that criticism, saying it was just talk.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of brush something off (= to remove something from a surface by moving your hand quickly over it)

brush up (on something)

to study again something you learned before. Brushing up on computer skills can be important for any worker thinking about getting a new job.

paint someone/something with the same brush

to say that someone or something has the same bad qualities as someone or something else. When one swimmer uses banned substances, you feel sorry for the others because they are all tarred with the same brush.

See also: paint, same