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Glite Dictionary
to candy-coat

to candy-coat

1 7.2
To make something unpleasant sound better to avoid hurting feelings
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈkændiˌkoʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : endulzar
  • Don't candy coat the problem by comparing statistical differences.

Examples

  • To give them a better perspective, I chose not to candy-coat my feedback on their performance.

  • It's important to address the issues directly and avoid trying to candy-coat the difficult truths.

  • And so I would be, I would be, I don't want to candy coat the truth of our country right now.

  • And so I would be, I would be, I don't want to candy coat the truth of our country right now.

  • Don't try to candy coat it.

    Waiting... (2005)

  • Don't let anybody candy coat it.

    Blog text (14)

  • This blog isn't going to candy coat what's going on in this country or anywhere else.

    Blog text (11)

  • I have to be honest and not candy-coat the situation if we want to solve the problems.

Synonyms

to sugarcoat
vsto candy-coat
  • Informal
19 5.0

Make something unpleasant seem nicer than it is

focuses on making unpleasant things seem more appealing rather than just hiding details
to soften the blow
vsto candy-coat
  • Informal
8 4.7

Make bad news or a loss easier to accept

aims to make things seem more attractive rather than only easing their impact
to soft-pedal
vsto candy-coat
3 7.6

To make a problem or bad news seem less important

instead makes unpleasant content seem more pleasant rather than merely downplaying it
to soft-soap
vsto candy-coat
  • Informal
1 7.7

To try to persuade someone by giving false praise

changes how harsh information feels rather than primarily persuading with flattery
to sweeten the pill
vsto candy-coat
  • Informal
1 6.2

Make an unpleasant thing seem easier to accept by adding something pleasant

uses milder words and tone instead of adding pleasant extras

How Sugarcoated

to whitewash
12 6.0
to candy-coat
  • Informal
1 7.2
to gloss over
22 6.5
to soften
50 3.1

Surface Forms

candy-coat infinitive
candy-coated past
candy-coated past participle
candy-coating present participle
candy-coats third person singular

Morphology

candy-coat = candy + coat (transparent) = candy + coat

The verb is a straightforward compound: literally 'to coat with candy' and metaphorically 'make more appealing', which learners can deduce from 'candy' and 'coat'.

Etymology

The word candy-coat combines candy and coat, and is like the familiar word sugar-coat. Imagine covering a bitter pill with candy to make it easier to take; so to candy-coat something is to make bad news or strong criticism seem 'sweeter' or 'less harsh'.