Essential Phrasal Verbs & Idioms (w/ "brush")

Question 1

to forget about it; disregard it; think something is not important

If people are saying negative things about you, just ____ (it) _____ and live your life.

Answer 1

brush (something) aside

If people are saying negative things about you, just brush (it) aside and live your life.

Question 2

dismiss or ignore

I was talking to her but she just ignored me. She just _______ (me) _____.

Answer 2

brush (someone/something) off

I was talking to her but she just ignored me. She just brushed (me) off.

Question 3

to refresh your knowledge on something; review material; go over

It’s been 5 years since my last French class. I need to _______ _____ _____ (my French).

Answer 3

brush up on (something)

It’s been 5 years since my last French class. I need to brush up on (my French).

Question 4

to intentionally ignore a problem; to pretend not to recognize the problem exists

Enron was a big company that tried to make their financial problems disappear by
brushing (their problems) ______ the ______.

Answer 4

to brush (something) under the carpet

Enron was a big company that tried to make their financial problems disappear by
brushing (their problems) under the carpet.