paper over

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to conceal (something controversial or unpleasant)

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paper over Idioms  

1. Also, paper over the cracks. Repair superficially, conceal, especially flaws. For example, He used some accounting gimmicks to paper over a deficit, or It was hardly a perfect settlement, but they decided to paper over the cracks. The German statesman Otto von Bismarck first used this analogy in a letter in 1865, and the first recorded example in English, in 1910, referred to it. The allusion is to covering cracked plaster with wallpaper, thereby improving its appearance but not the underlying defect.

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Example Sentences

Federal pandemic largesse helped paper over the district’s budget problems for a time and supercharged hiring.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

That extends a rally in bonds that has clipped more than 30 basis points, or hundredths of a percentage point, from the yield on the benchmark paper over the past month.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

But there were only so many problems that talent could paper over for the Trojans, even if Northwestern had come into Wednesday night on the heels of a five-game losing streak.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

A 4-1 scoreline more accurately reflects the cricket played, denies the opportunity to paper over the cracks and provides clarity for the way ahead.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

I turned the paper over to see if there was more on the back.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor