wave away
Gesture to reject
To wave away is to dismiss something with a gesture or, more often, with words that minimize its importance.
You might wave away a compliment, a concern, or an objection, signaling that it doesn't merit serious attention.
She waved away my apologies and changed the subject.
The phrase suggests a casual or sometimes impatient rejection, as if brushing something aside with a flick of the hand.
brush off
Dismissive rejection of someone
downplay · minimize · trivialize · discount · overlook · pooh-pooh · belittle · deprecate · underestimate · undervalue
rebuff
Abrupt, curt rejection
snub · repudiate · turn down · shoo · repel · ward off · fend off · push back
- dismissdismiss, brush off, brush aside, shrug off, sweep aside
- dismissingbrush aside, brush off, shrug off, blow off, dismiss
wave awaytake seriously
Treat as significant
heed · acknowledge · embrace · accept · attend to
wave, away, wavy, waves, waving, waver, waved, wavering, wavers