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[bring up the rear]{v. phr.} 1. To come last in a march, parade, or procession; end a line. •/The fire truck with Santa on it brought up the rear of the Christmas parade./ •/The governor and his staff brought up the rear of the parade./ 2. {informal} To do least well; do the most poorly of a group; be last. •/In the race, John brought up the rear./ •/In the basketball tournament, our team brought up the rear./

[bring] or [wheel in] or [out] or [up the big guns] {v. phr.} To make use of a concealed plan in order to defeat an opponent in an argument or in a game, debate, or competition. •/The new computer software company decided to bring out the big guns to get ahead of the competition./

[broke] See: GO BROKE, GO FOR BROKE, STONE-BROKE OT DEAD BROKE or FLAT BROKE, STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK.

[Bronx cheer]{n. phr.}, {slang} A loud sound made with tongue and lips to show opposition or scorn. •/When he began to show anti-union feelings, he was greeted with Bronx cheers all around./

[broom] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.

[broth] See: SCOTCH BROTH.

[brow] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE’S BROW.

[brown] See: DO UP BROWN.

[brown-bagger]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who does not go to the cafeteria or to a restaurant for lunch at work, but who brings his homemade lunch to work in order to save money. •/John became a brown-bagger not because he can’t afford the restaurant, but because he is too busy to go there./

[brown-nose]{v.}, {slang}, {avoidable}, {though gaining in acceptance} To curry favor in a subservient way, as by obviously exaggerated flattery. •/Max brown-noses his teachers, that’s why he gets all A’s in his courses./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

[brown paper bag]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} An unmarked police car. •/The beaver got a Christmas card because she didn’t notice the brown paper bag at her back door./ See: PLAIN WHITE WRAPPER.

[brown study]{n. phr.} A time of deep thought about something; a deep thoughtful mood. •/When his wife found him, he had pushed away his books and was in a brown study./

[brush] See: BEAT THE BUSHES or BEAT THE BRUSH.

[brush aside]{v. phr.} To ignore; give no reply. •/Brushing aside the editor’s comments, the young novelist proceeded with his story, which was subsequently rejected by the publisher./

[brush back]{v.} To throw a baseball pitch close to. •/The pitcher threw a high inside pitch to brush the batter back./ Syn.: DUST OFF.

[brushoff] See: GET THE BRUSHOFF, BRUSH OFF or GIVE THE BRUSHOFF.

[brush off] or [give the brush off] {v. phr.} 1. To refuse to hear or believe; quickly and impatiently; not take seriously or think important. •/John brushed off Bill’s warning that he might fall from the tree./ •/I said that it might rain and to take the bus, but Joe gave my idea the brushoff./ •/Father cut his finger but he brushed it off as not important and kept working./ 2. {informal} To be unfriendly to; not talk or pay attention to (someone); get rid of. •/Mary brushed off Bill at the dance./ •/I said hello to Mr. Smith, but he gave me the brushoff./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: GET THE BRUSH OFF.