sweep under the rug

1. Hide something, as in Their attempts to sweep the scandal under the rug were not very successful. This idiom alludes to sweeping dust under the rug, so it won't be seen. [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

“When you fight corruption globally, you have to have an overwhelming amount of evidence that is difficult to sweep under the rug,” Parker said.

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I don’t want to scare off the uninitiated audience with too many details; however, there are so many comorbid conditions that those with lower support needs like to sweep under the rug.

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“To sweep under the rug, overlook and ignore Ms. Jean-Pierre’s antisemitism in the appointment of such a critically important position as White House Press Secretary is enabling it to continue,” said Ms. Stern.

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Any attempt to fire Mr. Durham would be seen as political interference to sweep under the rug wrongdoing by Obama or Biden administration officials.

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However, another woman said more police and prison sentences “don’t prevent gun violence,” while one man said crime “is not something we can sweep under the rug with incarceration.”

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