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cover up
/ˈkʌvər ʌp/◆phrasal verb
to hide or conceal something
The company tried to cover up the scandal.
The company attempted to hide the scandal from the public.
informal
To hide or conceal something, often something negative or embarrassing.
She tried to cover up her mistake by blaming someone else.
She attempted to hide her mistake by shifting the blame.
The government was accused of covering up the truth.
The government was accused of hiding the truth from the public.
This phrase is often used in contexts involving deception or secrecy.
informal
To protect or shield something from harm or damage.
He covered up the furniture with plastic sheets before painting the room.
He protected the furniture by covering it with plastic sheets.
This meaning is less common and often used in literal contexts.
Collocations
cover up a mistaketo hide a mistakecover up the truthto hide the truthcover up a scandalto conceal a scandal
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Cover up' is often used in contexts involving deception or hiding something negative.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'cover up' depends heavily on the context. In legal or political contexts, it often implies hiding the truth.
Word Origin
The phrase 'cover up' comes from the literal action of placing something over another to hide it, which has been extended to metaphorical uses involving concealment.
Usage Notes
The phrase is commonly used in both literal and figurative senses, but the figurative sense (hiding something negative) is more prevalent.
Word Breakdown
cover
to place something over
rootup
completes the phrasal verb, indicating the action of hiding
particleEnglish Dictionary