attempt to conceal makes it more obvious; cover-up backfires
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to try to cover up something bad only to make it more conspicuous; the more one tries to hide, the more one reveals
formalUsed when attempts to conceal wrongdoing, mistakes, or embarrassing facts backfire and draw more attention to the issue. Often used in criticism or commentary on failed cover-ups.
Tā他
shì试
tú图
yǎn掩
gài盖
cuò错
wù误
，
jié结
guǒ果
yù欲
gài盖
mí弥
zhāng彰
，
fǎn反
ér而
yǐn引
qǐ起
le了
gèng更
duō多
rén人
de的
huái怀
yí疑
。
He tried to cover up his mistake, but the cover-up backfired and aroused even more suspicion.
Zhè这
piān篇
wén文
zhāng章
yuè越
shì是
shān删
gǎi改
，
yuè越
shì是
yù欲
gài盖
mí弥
zhāng彰
，
lù露
chū出
le了
zuò作
zhě者
de的
zhēn真
shí实
yì意
tú图
。
The more this article was edited and deleted, the more the attempted cover-up revealed the author's true intentions.
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Miàn面
duì对
méi媒
tǐ体
de的
zhuī追
wèn问
，
tā他
shǎn闪
shuò烁
qí其
cí词
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
yù欲
gài盖
mí弥
zhāng彰
。
Facing persistent questions from the media, his evasive answers were practically a dead giveaway.
Gōng公
sī司
shì试
tú图
yǐn隐
mán瞒
cái财
wù务
wèn问
tí题
，
dàn但
yù欲
gài盖
mí弥
zhāng彰
，
zuì最
zhōng终
bèi被
jiān监
guǎn管
bù部
mén门
chá查
chǔ处
。
The company tried to conceal its financial problems, but the attempted cover-up only exposed them more, leading to investigation by regulatory authorities.