the acceptable face of

the acceptable face of (something)

A presentation, manifestation, or aspect of something that is or tries to be acceptable or even attractive. They claim to be defenders of free speech, but they're just trying to be the acceptable face of racism, if you ask me. Their country, with its economic success and reputation for human rights, has become the acceptable face of communism.
See also: acceptable, face, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the acceptable face of

the tolerable or attractive manifestation or aspect of.
1996 New York Review of Books He presents himself as the acceptable face of gambling…the man who, almost single-handedly, has turned a huckster's paradise into a gangster-free zone.
See also: acceptable, face, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • the acceptable face of (something)
  • the acceptable face of something
  • bright side
  • down to (someone or something)
  • down to somebody/something
  • go into detail
  • go into detail(s)
  • flip side
  • the flip side (of something)
  • the flip side of something
References in periodicals archive
Apple had been the acceptable face of digital distribution since the turn of the millennium: It created the 99-cent iTunes download, invented the iPod to play it on, and convinced history's most bankable artists such as the Beatles to join.
A fitting image to end England's World Cup summer one in which a bunch of likeable, young men smiled the acceptable face of patriotism.
Salmond said Davis was "the acceptable face of the Brexiteers and certainly the one who knows what he's talking about".
But from his place in the celestial directors' box, he suspects Sir Tom Finney might be looking down at the acceptable face of graffiti.
This is a blow to the reputation of a club who had come to represent the acceptable face of professional football in Europe - passionate fans, a great heritage and a team which played sublime football - when so many other clubs were mired in one kind of scandal or another.
They may present themselves as the acceptable face of usury - but they are still exploitative moneygrabbers.
I nearly said he was the acceptable face of football, but we're straying into gag territory a bit now ...) My strangest derby memory has to be in August 1999 when Ruud Gullit wrote the most public suicide note in history by leaving out Alan Shearer to show who was boss!
She changed society all right - and not for the better - by making greed and self-interest the acceptable face of capitalism.
Ms O'Grady represents the acceptable face of 21st century trade unionism.
Sarah Millican: Chatterbox Live Friday, Channel 4, 9pm In a show recorded in London in 2011, Millican shares humorous insights into her life, including the perils of living alone, and offers advice on such things as non-fattening stress relief, the alternative to marriage and the acceptable face of adultery.
FRIDAY: Sarah Millican: Chatterbox Live (Channel 4 , 9pm) In a show recorded in London in 2011, Millican shares humorous insights into her life, including the perils of living alone, and offers advice on such things as non-fattening stress relief, the alternative to marriage and the acceptable face of adultery.
FRIDAY Sarah Millican: Chatterbox Live Channel 4, 9pm In a show recorded in London last year, the comic (above) shares humorous insights into her life, including the perils of living alone, and offers advice on such things as non-fattening stress relief, the alternative to marriage and the acceptable face of adultery.
Good on her for refusing to slim down her curves to meet what some in the industry may see as the acceptable face of modelling.
Tom Daley - The acceptable face of Speedos has enjoyed yet another remarkable year.
Khan's urbane appeal as a former internationally acclaimed cricketer means he can reach a wider, less religious audience and position himself as the acceptable face of anti-Americanism, said Badar Alam, editor of Pakistan's Herald Magazine.