shrug (something) off

to act as if something is unimportant or not a problem.

Although constantly troubled by a lack of money, he was able to shrug it off with a joke.

The runner has been trying hard to shrug off a back injury that doesn't seem to go away.

Related vocabulary: shrug your shoulders

• a brain drain
• a brain trust
• a breath of fresh air
• a bright spark
• a bright spot
• a broad church
• a Bronx cheer
• Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
• a bucks party
• a bully pulpit
• a bumpy ride
• a bum rap
• a bum steer
• a bundle of joy
• a busman's holiday
• a buzz word
• a call girl
• a calling card
• a camp follower
• a can of worms
• a carbon copy
• a carrot and stick
• a carrot and stick approach
• a carrot-top
• a case in point