sweep under the rug
🧹 sweep under the rug
Concrete Meaning
To hide a problem or keep a mistake secret in the hope that it will be forgotten, rather than dealing with it directly.
💬 Context & Examples
Used in business, politics, or personal life when someone tries to cover up an embarrassing error to avoid consequences.
- "The company tried to sweep the safety violations under the rug, but a whistleblower leaked the report."
- "You can't just sweep this issue under the rug and hope it goes away."
🧠 Pattern Challenge
Test Yourself
If you literally sweep dirt under a rug, is the room actually clean?
Show Answer
No, the dirt is still there; it is just hidden from view temporarily.