C1idiompoliticsIELTS-friendly
sweep something under the carpet
USUK
to try to hide a problem or mistake instead of dealing with it
British. American English says 'sweep something under the rug'. The past form is 'swept'.
In context
The school tried to sweep the bullying under the carpet, but parents found out.
Problems don't disappear when you sweep them under the carpet.
More idioms about politics
- a double standarda rule applied more strictly to one group than to another
- a grey areaa situation where the rules are unclear, so nobody is sure what is allowed
- a hidden agendaa secret reason or plan behind what someone says or does
- a hot potatoa difficult issue that people disagree about and nobody wants to deal with
- a lame ducka politician or government with little real power, often near the end of a term in office