shrug something off phrasal verb with shrug verb [ I or T ] uk / ʃrʌɡ / us / ʃrʌɡ / -gg- (NOT WORRY) Add to word list (also shrug something aside) to treat something as if it is not important or not a problem:

shrug sth off — phrasal verb with shrug verb [ I, T ] uk / ʃrʌɡ / us present participle shrugging | past tense and past participle shrugged to not worry about something and treat it as not important: The team manager shrugged off criticism.

shrug something off/aside to treat something as if it is not important synonym dismiss Shrugging off her injury, she played on. He shrugged aside suggestions that he resign.

shrug something off (as something) and pass something off (as something) to ignore something unpleasant or offensive as if it meant something else. She shrugged off the criticism as harmless. I passed off the remark as misinformed. Bill scolded me, but I just passed it off.