gloss over
Related to gloss over: skim over
gloss over (something)
1. To minimize or omit something in an account in order to obscure, conceal, or diminish the importance of it. When I told Mom and Dad about my night, I just glossed over the fact that I'd gotten a parking ticket. You can tell they're trying to gloss over the poor Q3 sales in their investors' earnings report.
2. To give only superficial or perfunctory attention to something. I don't understand why this class glosses over such an important part of Medieval history.
See also: gloss, over
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
gloss over something
to cover up, minimize, or play down something bad. Don't gloss over your own role in this fiasco! I don't want to gloss this matter over, but it really isn't very important, is it?
See also: gloss, over
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
gloss over
Make attractive or acceptable by deception or superficial treatment. For example, His resumé glossed over his lack of experience, or She tried to gloss over the mistake by insisting it would make no difference. [Mid-1600s]
See also: gloss, over
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- gloss
- gloss over (something)
- shroud
- shroud (something) in (something else)
- shroud in
- pale into insignificance
- conceal
- conceal (someone or something) from (someone or something)
- conceal from
- abstract away