Brush someone off

Origin

The phrase "brush someone off" vividly draws its power from the everyday, almost involuntary physical act of sweeping away something unwanted or insignificant. Picture a person flicking a speck of dust from their sleeve, brushing away a persistent fly, or casually shrugging off a crumb. The action implies triviality, an irritant easily discarded without a second thought. This potent physical image became a widespread metaphor in the early 20th century, particularly within American English, to elegantly capture the dismissal of an individual or their concerns as if they were nothing more than a bothersome annoyance, easily brushed aside and forgotten.