gloss over

verb

1. to hide under a deceptively attractive surface or appearance

2. to deal with (unpleasant facts) rapidly and cursorily, or to omit them altogether from an account of something

Idioms and Phrases

Make attractive or acceptable by deception or superficial treatment. For example, His resumé glossed over his lack of experience, or She tried to gloss over the mistake by insisting it would make no difference. [Mid-1600s]

Example Sentences

She criticized the CDC for glossing over side effects such as fever, sleepiness and fussiness.

From Los Angeles Times

Plenty of other details about Sheen’s life are conveniently left out or glossed over, as if to assume that the actor’s reputational salvation isn’t hiding in his filmography or testimonials from famous friends.

From Salon

He glossed over criticisms that pre-deployed fire engines were inadequate, evacuation alerts were delayed and elderly and disabled residents were left stranded.

From Los Angeles Times

While Bianchi’s account was a “morass of contradictions,” there was nevertheless a great deal of evidence to corroborate his claims, which he said prosecutors had unaccountably “glossed over.”

From Los Angeles Times

She added: "I'd have stamped on the book I think. Just to gloss over why they ran out of money to me was shocking."

From BBC

Related Words

• brush 
• coat 
• cover 
• daub 
• decorate 
• depict 
• design 
• draw 
• dye 
• portray 
• sketch 
• tint 
• wash