Question 1

What does "brush away" mean?

Accepted Answer

To remove something from a surface or from yourself with a light sweeping movement of the hand or a brush.

Question 2

How do you use "brush away" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

She brushed away the crumbs from her lap before standing up.

Question 3

Is "brush away" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"brush away" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. Used both literally (brushing crumbs away) and figuratively (brushing away sad memories). The figurative sense is more literary. Common in both British and American English.

brush away

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