sweep under the rug
Meaning
To hide, ignore, or avoid dealing with a problem or wrongdoing instead of addressing it openly.
Origin
From the literal act of quickly cleaning by sweeping dirt under a rug so it looks tidy, a metaphor for concealing issues to preserve appearances; recorded in English from the mid-20th century.
Notes
Negative nuance: implies concealment/avoidance, often criticizing someone for prioritizing appearances over solving the issue.
Examples
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The company tried to sweep the safety complaints under the rug to avoid bad press.
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You can’t just sweep your mistakes under the rug and expect everyone to forget.
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They swept the budget overruns under the rug until the audit exposed them.
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Instead of sweeping the argument under the rug, we talked it through and apologized.
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He urged the team not to sweep the issue under the rug but to fix it before launch.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as a verb phrase: “sweep (something) under the rug/carpet.” Tense changes (swept, sweeping). Object can be explicit (“the scandal”) or implied.
Synonyms
- cover up
- hide
- bury
- brush under the carpet
- paper over
Antonyms
- address the issue
- deal with it
- bring it to light
- face the facts