give someone the brush-off
Meaning: To be dismissed casually and almost cruelly.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The expression suggests the idea of brushing a small piece of lint or dirt from one's clothing. It is usually used where one person is superior to (or thinks he is superior to) the other.
More idioms — Daily Life
- give someone a bum steer — Bad advice or instructions.
- burn rubber — To accelerate with tires so quickly from a stopped position that the rubber tires make a…
- burn the candle at both ends — To overwork oneself.
- burned out — Lacking enthusiasm due to overexposure or too much of the same thing; completely used up;…
- burning question — A question that deserves or demands discussion.
- butt in — To interfere (sentence 1) or literally to push one's way in between other people (sentenc…
More English idioms
- buy something for a song — To buy something very cheaply.
- by hook or by crook — By one way or another; by any means possible.
- go by the book — Operate according to the rules.
- do something by the seat of one's pants — To accomplish something by luck and instinct rather than skill.
- call someone on the carpet — To confront or hold someone responsible for some misdeed.
- call someone's bluff — To challenge someone to carry out a threat or prove the truth of a statement.
From our compliments & insults
- حمار (ḥimār) — A stubborn fool — the donkey being the universal symbol of obstinacy in Arabic culture.
- Je bent een kanjer — You're a star — a champ and a wonderful person.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) — You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.