to hide the dirt - Glite Dictionary

Examples

Politicians often attempt to hide the dirt when scandals threaten their careers.
It's unhealthy for a family to constantly hide the dirt instead of dealing with problems openly.
Don't hide the dirt from your friends!
She always hides the dirt when we have guests.
The manager tried to hide the dirt about the faulty products to avoid losing customers.
In an attempt to save his reputation, the politician sought to hide the dirt from the press.
She felt guilty for continuing to hide the dirt from her family instead of being honest.

Synonyms

to hide

vsto hide the dirt

∞ 1.0

To keep something so others cannot see or understand it

focuses on keeping evidence of wrongdoing secret rather than general physical concealment

to cover up

vsto hide the dirt

314 3.7

To hide something so people cannot see or find out about it

is specifically about evidence of wrongdoing or immoral acts rather than general concealment

to conceal

vsto hide the dirt

282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

is specifically about keeping evidence of wrongdoing secret rather than secrecy in general

to cover for

vsto hide the dirt

Informal

156 4.4

To do or say something to hide someone's bad action

focuses on keeping evidence secret rather than making excuses or alibis

to whitewash

vsto hide the dirt

12 6.0

To hide bad facts to make something seem better

is about keeping evidence of wrongdoing secret rather than improving appearance

to sweep under the rug

vsto hide the dirt

Informal

8 7.7

To hide a problem instead of dealing with it openly

is specifically about concealing evidence of wrongdoing rather than simply avoiding discussion

to pull the wool over someone's eyes

vsto hide the dirt

Informal

7 8.2

To trick someone by hiding the truth

focuses on tricking people rather than concealing evidence of wrongful acts

to paper over

vsto hide the dirt

Informal

5 7.9

Try to hide problems instead of dealing with them

is about concealing actual evidence rather than only disguising problems

to hush up

vsto hide the dirt

Informal

2 7.2

Stop people finding out about a mistake, crime, or embarrassing event

aims at keeping evidence secret rather than only preventing people learning about it

to whitewash the scandal

vsto hide the dirt

7.5

To try to hide a scandal by giving wrong information to the public

is about concealing evidence generally rather than only for major public wrongdoing

to whitewash the issues

vsto hide the dirt

8.4

To hide problems or make them seem less serious

focuses on concealing actual evidence rather than only minimizing or glossing over faults

to push under the carpet

vsto hide the dirt

UK

7.3

To ignore or hide problems instead of dealing with them

focuses on ignoring problems rather than actively concealing evidence of wrongdoing

Antonyms

to reveal

∞ 2.3

Show something that was hidden or secret

to disclose

7 4.0

Make something visible by removing a cover

How Concealed

to obliterate the evidence

NSFW

8.1

to hide the dirt

Informal

8.2

to whitewash

12 6.0

to sweep under the rug

Informal

8 7.7

Surface Forms

hide the dirt infinitive

hiding the dirt present participle

hides the dirt third person singular

hid the dirt past

hid the dirt past participle

Morphology

hide + the + dirt

The phrase is a direct combination of 'hide' (to conceal) and 'dirt' (harmful information/gossip) so its meaning 'to conceal damaging evidence or faults' is transparently derivable from the constituents. The determiner 'the' is a grammatical filler only; this follows a common verb + object composition that a B1 learner who knows the listed word senses will readily understand.

Etymology

Hide the dirt comes from the simple image of someone sweeping real dirt out of sight or under a rug so a house looks clean, and using hide to keep the mess secret. That's why it now means 'to hide proof of bad actions'.