Phrasal verbs "brush off" vs "shake off"

Differences between brush off and shake off

Brush off means to dismiss or ignore something or someone, often in a rude or abrupt manner. Shake off means to get rid of something that is bothering or weighing you down, such as a bad mood or negative thoughts.

Meanings and Definitions: brush off vs shake off

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Brush off

• 1. Ignore, pay little attention.

  The minister BRUSHED OFF the criticism.

Shake off

• 1. Get rid of an illness.

  It took me ages to SHAKE OFF the cough.

Usage Examples: brush off, shake off in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

brush off

Example

She always brushes off my advice.

Example

He brushes off any negative comments about his work.

shake off

Example

She is trying to shake off her bad mood.

Example

He shakes off his nervousness before giving a speech.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Brush off

dismiss

To reject or ignore something or someone in a rude or abrupt manner.

Example

He dismissed her idea without even considering it.

shrug off

To dismiss or ignore something as unimportant or insignificant.

Example

She shrugged off the criticism and continued with her work.

blow off

To dismiss or ignore something or someone in a careless or disrespectful manner.

Example

He blew off the meeting and went to play golf instead.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Shake off

get over

To recover from a negative emotion or experience and move on.

Example

It took her a while to get over the breakup, but she eventually found happiness again.

let go of

To release or relinquish something that is causing negative emotions or thoughts.

Example

She needed to let go of her anger and forgive him for what he had done.

snap out of

To quickly recover from a negative emotion or state of mind.

Example

He needed to snap out of his bad mood and focus on the task at hand.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “brush”

• brush up
• brush aside

Phrasal Verbs with “shake”

• shake up
• shake out
• shake down

Phrasal Verbs with “off”

• go off
• back off
• ship off
• frighten off
• pop off

Differences in brush off vs shake off: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: brush off or shake off?

Both brush off and shake off are commonly used in everyday conversation, but shake off is slightly more common. This is because it's a more versatile phrase that can be used in a wider range of situations, while brush off is more specific to dismissing something or someone.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of brush off and shake off

Both brush off and shake off are informal phrases that are suitable for casual conversations with friends and family. However, in more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more professional tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of brush off and shake off

The tone of brush off and shake off can differ based on context. Brush off often carries a dismissive or rude tone, while shake off typically has a more positive and proactive tone, especially when referring to getting rid of negative emotions or thoughts.

brush off & shake off: Synonyms and Antonyms

Brush off

Synonyms

• ignore
• dismiss
• neglect
• overlook
• disregard
• slight
• pay no heed
• shrug off

Antonyms

• acknowledge
• address
• consider
• heed
• respect
• pay attention
• take seriously
• value

Shake off

Synonyms

• overcome
• dismiss
• eliminate
• get rid of
• recover from
• free oneself from
• throw off
• cast off

Antonyms

• keep
• maintain
• retain
• accept
• adopt
• hold on to
• embrace