sweep something under the rug
Meaning: To hide a problem instead of dealing with it.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The club swept the scandal under the rug for years.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A lazy way of cleaning that hides the dirt. The British version says "carpet"; both are common from the mid-20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Polish: zamiatać pod dywan — literally: to sweep under the carpet
More idioms — Daily Life
- play for time — To delay deliberately in the hope of improving one's position.
- even Homer nods — Even the most skilled people sometimes make mistakes.
- borrow trouble — To worry about problems that may never happen.
- act like one owns the place — To behave with arrogant disregard for others.
- once in a lifetime — So rare that it will probably happen only once.
- out of one's league — Too good, attractive or expensive for someone to have a chance with.
More English idioms
- push up daisies — To be dead and buried.
- lose one's head — To stop thinking clearly because of panic, anger or passion.
- manna from heaven — Something good that arrives unexpectedly just when it is needed.
- lose face — To lose respect or be humiliated in public.
- shoulder the burden — To take on a heavy responsibility.
- gild the lily — To spoil something already perfect by adding to it.
From our proverbs
- Doing nothing is doing ill. — Idleness itself becomes harmful; inaction allows problems to fester and opportunities to…
- Never refuse a good offer. — Accepting beneficial opportunities when they arise prevents missed chances that may not r…
- Old foxes need no tutors. — Experienced people have learned through living what novices must be taught formally.