shrug off: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to neutral; common in spoken and written English, including journalism and everyday conversation.
Quick answer
What does “shrug off” mean?
to dismiss something as unimportant or not worth worrying about.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to dismiss something as unimportant or not worth worrying about; to treat with casual indifference.
To consciously or subconsciously reject the significance or impact of criticism, a problem, illness, or a physical attack. It can also mean to get rid of something, like a garment or a feeling, with a dismissive physical gesture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant syntactic or semantic differences.
Connotations
Slightly more common in US media to describe a politician or public figure dismissing scandals.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “shrug off” in a Sentence
[Subject] shrug off [Object] (e.g., He shrugged off the criticism.)[Subject] shrug [Object] off (e.g., She shrugged the comments off.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shrug off” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He managed to shrug off his early career knock-backs.
- The team shrugged off the defeat and prepared for the next match.
American English
- She shrugged off the insult like it was nothing.
- The president shrugged off the latest poll numbers.
adverb
British English
- He replied shrug-off-ishly, which infuriated me.
American English
- She said 'whatever' very shrug-off-ingly.
adjective
British English
- His shrug-off attitude annoyed his more anxious colleagues.
American English
- She has a very shrug-off approach to online trolls.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The CEO shrugged off concerns about quarterly losses, focusing on long-term strategy.
Academic
The theory was initially shrugged off by the establishment before gaining traction.
Everyday
I tried to shrug off the rude comment, but it bothered me all day.
Technical
The material is designed to shrug off extreme heat and corrosion.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shrug off”
- Incorrect: *'She shrugged off her shoulders.' (redundant) Correct: 'She shrugged.' or 'She shrugged off the question.'
- Incorrect preposition: *'shrug off about something' Correct: 'shrug off something'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'shrug off a problem' or 'shrug a problem off'.
Overwhelmingly yes. It's rarely used for positive things. You don't 'shrug off a compliment' naturally; you'd more likely 'brush it off' modestly.
'Shrug off' implies a conscious, often visible act of dismissal (like a mental or physical gesture), often after acknowledging the thing exists. 'Ignore' suggests not acknowledging it at all.
Yes, but less commonly. The primary meaning is metaphorical. The literal meaning (to remove a garment by shrugging) is understood but less frequent.
to dismiss something as unimportant or not worth worrying about.
Shrug off is usually informal to neutral; common in spoken and written english, including journalism and everyday conversation. in register.
Shrug off: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃrʌɡ ˈɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃrʌɡ ˈɔːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shrug it off (as a standalone imperative or statement)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine physically shrugging your shoulders to make a heavy coat (the problem) FALL OFF your body. The gesture of indifference makes the burden go away.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE PHYSICAL BURDENS that can be discarded with a gesture of indifference.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'shrug off' used LEAST appropriately?