paper over the cracks
/ˌpeɪpər ˌəʊvə ðə ˈkræks/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
to hide problems instead of solving them
Examples
- 1A quick apology won't fix their friendship; it only papers over the cracks.
- 2The manager papered over the cracks in the team until two people resigned.
- 3Giving everyone a bonus just papered over the cracks; the real problem was the long hours.
- 4We can't keep papering over the cracks; the club needs a completely new plan.
- 5Did the new rules solve anything, or did they just paper over the cracks?
Grammar
Only paper changes: papers, papering, papered. Keep the cracks plural.
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English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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