Have an encounter or come in conflict with, as in This was not the first time that Bob had a brush with the law. This expression alludes to the noun brush in the sense of “a hostile collision,” a usage dating from about 1400.

Have a brush with death meaning?

The phrase “brush with death” is used to refer to a time or situation when someone was very close to dying, as in a dangerous situation like a car accident where a person survives, a person can say they had a “brush with death”.

What is the verb of brush?

brushed; brushing; brushes. Definition of brush (Entry 5 of 5) intransitive verb. : to move lightly or heedlessly brushed past the well-wishers waiting to greet him. Other Words from brush Synonyms & Antonyms Learn More About brush.