dismiss lightly

USAGE SUMMARY

"dismiss lightly" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of disregarding something without giving it serious consideration. Example: "She tended to dismiss lightly any concerns raised by her colleagues." Alternative expressions include "brush off" and "take lightly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Harsh though it may be, this is not an issue we can afford to dismiss lightly.

The Guardian - Opinion

It'll be a stretch, even on a consultant's salary, so the political convictions of his financial adviser aren't something to dismiss lightly.

The Guardian

A characteristic that we would typically dismiss lightly in everyday life -- a tendency to procrastinate, a hot temper, or a fastidiousness about details -- sends up a red flag for a psychiatrist.

The New York Times - Health

Still, the slow but steady advance of democracy in Asia suggests it will be increasingly hard to dismiss lightly the social impacts of dams.That, anyway, is the hope of the World Commission on Dams (WCD), which is working to build a broad consensus on agreed principles for big dams.

The Economist

I didn't know her, I barely knew her name, but the offer she held out to me each morning seemed far too generous to dismiss lightly.

Johns Hopkins University

Given this area's inherent complexity, however, Republican policymakers should not dismiss lightly the recommendations of communications policy experts like FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Brendan Carr, who have opposed heavy-handed government intervention in the emerging marketplace for 5G services.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Such figures should not be dismissed lightly.

The Guardian - Opinion

But that does not mean they should be dismissed lightly.

Independent

This is not a payoff that should be dismissed lightly.

The New Yorker

But the danger of civil unrest should not be dismissed lightly.

The Economist

He said Ally's document-processing violations shouldn't be dismissed lightly.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dismiss lightly", ensure the context clearly indicates the potential importance or seriousness of what is being dismissed. This highlights the error in judgment or the casual disregard.

Common error

While "dismiss lightly" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound overly critical or dismissive. Consider alternatives like "underestimate" or "overlook" to maintain a more objective tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dismiss lightly" functions as a verb phrase typically used as part of a larger clause. It describes the action of disregarding something without giving it due consideration. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dismiss lightly" is a verb phrase used to express disapproval of someone's lack of seriousness or consideration towards something. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability. While not exceptionally common, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with some presence in academic and formal business writing. Related phrases include "brush aside" and "take lightly", though each carries slightly different nuances. When using "dismiss lightly", ensure that the potential significance of what's being dismissed is clear to emphasize the error in judgment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take something lightly

Focuses on not appreciating the importance of something.

brush aside

Suggests a quick and dismissive rejection.

disregard without consideration

Emphasizes the lack of thought given when dismissing something.

make light of

Implies treating a serious issue in a frivolous manner.

treat without seriousness

Focuses on the lack of gravity in the treatment of a topic or issue.

downplay the significance

Stresses minimizing the importance of something.

wave away

Implies a casual and effortless dismissal.

underestimate the importance

Highlights the act of valuing something less than it deserves.

pay no attention to

Highlights the act of ignoring something.

overlook

Implies failing to notice or consider something.

FAQs

How can I use "dismiss lightly" in a sentence?

Use "dismiss lightly" when you want to say that someone is not taking something seriously enough. For example: "The manager can't "dismiss lightly" the complaints from the employees".

What are some alternatives to "dismiss lightly"?

You can use alternatives such as "brush aside", "underestimate", or "overlook" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "dismiss lightly" or "take lightly"?

Both "dismiss lightly" and "take lightly" are acceptable, but "dismiss lightly" might be more appropriate when referring to rejecting an idea or concern, while "take lightly" might be better for not appreciating the seriousness of a situation.

What does it mean to "make light of" something compared to "dismissing it lightly"?

To "make light of" something implies finding humor in a serious situation, while to ""dismiss lightly"" suggests disregarding its importance without necessarily finding it funny.