What does the phrase sweep under the rug mean?
to hide
Definition of sweep (something) under the rug : to hide (something that is illegal, embarrassing, or wrong) He tried to sweep his past mistakes under the rug.
Is sweeping under the rug a metaphor?
To sweep something under the rug means to hide a problem or something unpleasant from other people, with intentions to deal with the issue later, or to simply ignore an issue. This idiom is always used in a negative sense. It is never good to sweep something under the rug!
Is it sweep it under the carpet or rug?
to try to hide and forget about something because it makes you embarrassed or ashamed. The usual American expression is sweep something under the rug. People often assume if you sweep something under the carpet the problem will go away, but that is not the case.
What does it mean to push things under the rug?
to hide something damaging or unpleasant and try to keep it secret: This scandal can’t be swept under the rug.
What does the idiom until the cows come home mean?
for a very long time
Definition of till/until the cows come home informal. : for a very long time They’ll be arguing about this till the cows come home.
Whats another word for swept under the rug?
In this page you can discover 5 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for sweep under the rug, like: conceal, put out of sight, hide, neglect and ignore.
What do you mean by swept?
intransitive verb. 1a : to clean a surface with or as if with a broom. b : to move swiftly, forcefully, or devastatingly the wind swept through the treetops. 2 : to go with stately or sweeping movements proudly swept into the room. 3 : to move or extend in a wide curve or range.
What is the meaning of an AXE to grind?
A selfish aim or motive, as in The article criticized the new software, but the author had an ax to grind, as its manufacturer had fired his son. This frequently used idiom comes from a story by Charles Miner, published in 1811, about a boy who was flattered into turning the grindstone for a man sharpening his ax.
What does bull in a china shop mean?
: a person who breaks things or who often makes mistakes or causes damage in situations that require careful thinking or behavior As a politician, he was a bull in a china shop and often had to apologize for his rough speech.