sweep something under the carpet
/ˌswiːp ˌsʌmθɪŋ ˌʌndə ðə ˈkɑːpɪt/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
to hide a problem instead of dealing with it
Examples
- 1The club tried to sweep it under the carpet, but a parent told the local paper.
- 2Problems like this don't disappear if you sweep them under the carpet.
- 3Instead of discussing the mistake openly, the manager swept it under the carpet and hoped nobody would notice.
- 4We can't keep sweeping this under the carpet; the damp in the bathroom is getting worse.
- 5Why did the landlord sweep it under the carpet when the tenants first reported the leak?
Grammar
Only sweep changes: sweeps, sweeping, swept. something is a short object such as it or this. American English says under the rug.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about problems and trouble
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →teething problemssmall difficulties at the start of something newtouch and goso uncertain that it could easily end badlycome to a headto reach the point where something must be donea double-edged swordsomething that has both good and bad effectsin hot waterin trouble and likely to be punished or criticisedthe last strawthe final problem that makes a situation impossible to accept
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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