cover up mistakes; gloss over faults
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to cover up one's mistakes with excuses; to gloss over one's faults; to whitewash
formalA formal idiom often used critically to describe someone who conceals errors rather than admitting them. Literally 'to adorn (wén) the fault and beautify (shì) the wrong'.
Tā他
xǐ喜
huan欢
wén文
guò过
shì饰
fēi非
，
cóng从
bù不
chéng承
rèn认
zì自
jǐ己
de的
cuò错
wù误
。
He likes to cover up his mistakes and never admits his errors.
Chū出
le了
wèn问
tí题
yào要
yǒng勇
yú于
chéng承
rèn认
，
bú不
yào要
wén文
guò过
shì饰
fēi非
。
When problems arise, you should have the courage to admit them, not gloss over your faults.
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Zhè这
fèn份
bào报
gào告
wén文
guò过
shì饰
fēi非
，
yǎn掩
gài盖
le了
shì事
shí实
zhēn真
xiàng相
。
This report whitewashes the facts and conceals the truth.