casually; nonchalantly; as if nothing happened
Describes acting in a relaxed, unconcerned manner, often when one would expect worry or effort. Can imply doing something difficult with ease or brushing off a serious matter.
He pulled off the difficult task as if it were nothing.
Even after failing, she laughed it off nonchalantly.
Standard kanji spelling.
Kana-mixed spelling; less common but still used.
Derived from 事 (thing) + も (even) + 無い (not exist) + げ (seeming) + に (adverbial), literally 'as if there is nothing'. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the phrase has been used since at least the Edo period.