To Dust Something Under The Carpet

The senator has been accused of trying to sweep his former drug use under the carpet.

To dust something under the carpet.

This allusion to hiding household dust or debris by sweeping it under a rug or carpet was used figuratively only from the mid twentieth century. The senator has been accused of trying to sweep his former drug use under the carpet. Sweep something under the carpet to ignore deny or conceal from public view or knowledge something that is embarrassing unappealing or damaging to one s reputation. To hide a problem or try to keep it secret instead of dealing with it.

The soft brush attachment will whisk blinds and curtains clean and the carpet hose can squeeze into tight spots like under large beds and behind heavy furniture. The same goes for carpets another dust magnet. Sweep sth under the carpet definition. It appeared in the boston globe in 1979.

Attempts to sweep the chappaquiddick scandal under the rug have not succeeded. Give them a pass at least weekly with your trusty vac ideally one with a hepa filter so particles won t escape back into the room.