Wrap up or enfold in order to protect. For example, Be sure to cover up the outdoor furniture in case of rain , or It's cold, so be sure to cover up the baby . [Late 1800s]
any action, stratagem, or other means of concealing or preventing investigation or exposure.
Also coverup any of various women's garments, as loose blouses, jump suits, caftans, or sarongs, worn over a swimsuit, exercise clothing, or the like.
(tr) to cover completely
to attempt to conceal (a mistake or crime)
she tried to cover up for her friend
(intr) boxing to defend the body and head with the arms
Wrap up or enfold in order to protect. For example, Be sure to cover up the outdoor furniture in case of rain , or It's cold, so be sure to cover up the baby . [Late 1800s]
Conceal something, especially a crime, as in The opposition accused the President of covering up his assistant's suicide . [c. 1920]
First recorded in 1925–30; noun use of verb phrase cover up
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What started as an innocent mistake has ended up as a bad cover-up.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026
But moviegoers won’t soon forget her impressive turn, communicating the stakes of a massive cover-up that sought to prevent the knowledge of aliens walking among humanity for decades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
He also says that Freedom of Information requests continue to be turned down and the "cover-up continues".
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
He added: "There's not a cover-up here, it's just being transparent."
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
She’s wearing a two-piece magenta bathing suit and a faded basketball jersey as a cover-up.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Sugar is often added to drinks for mouthfeel and to cover up the off-putting tastes of functional ingredients.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026
Here’s another reason to cover up in the thick of tick season this summer: There is a bite that can leave you allergic to burgers, bacon and steak.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
The four pilot schemes, lasting up to a year, cover up to 100,000 appointments and are backed by £3m of funding.
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
She then lied to cover up her actions.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026
Jan’s denial of having come to the home would not be believed now; it would make Mr. Dalton and Britten feel that he was trying to cover up something of even much greater seriousness.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
MPs are expected to approve the long-delayed 'Hillsborough Law' later, in a bid to prevent cover-ups linked to failures of the state.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Can you lay out the lies and fabrications and cover-ups?
From Slate ● Nov. 14, 2025
These captured the world's imagination, attracting journalists from around the globe and leading to claims of conspiracies, cover-ups and cheap publicity stunts.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2025
In turn, Patel tweeted a pledge that “There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents.”
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2025
He previously said while Labour leader that the law would help prevent cover-ups like the infected blood and Post Office scandals.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2025
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
