Cool MateDismiss vs You can't sweep that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
You can't sweep that
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: DismissMost common: Dismiss
| Dismiss | You can't sweep that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊ kɑːnt swiːp ðæt//🇺🇸 //jʊ kænt swiːp ðæt// |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | You cannot ignore or avoid that issue. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | You can't sweep that under the rug; it's a serious problem. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | quickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, from | sweep under the rug, sweep aside concerns, sweep away issues |
| Antonyms | embrace, welcome, accept | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'dismiss' without an object (e.g., saying 'I dismiss' instead of 'I dismiss the idea'), Confusing with 'miss' (to fail to notice or understand), Overusing in casual speech where 'ignore' may be more appropriate | Confused about the context; might use in formal situations., Misunderstands the meaning; thinks it literally refers to cleaning. |
| Usage notes | Use 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing. | Used in casual conversations to indicate that something must be acknowledged or dealt with. It’s often said when someone tries to overlook a problem. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs You can't sweep that
What's the difference between Dismiss and You can't sweep that?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. You can't sweep that: You cannot ignore or avoid that issue.
Which is more formal: Dismiss and You can't sweep that?
Dismiss is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Dismiss and You can't sweep that?
Dismiss is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. You can't sweep that: You can't sweep that under the rug; it's a serious problem.
Can I use Dismiss and You can't sweep that interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss and You can't sweep that are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.