carpet (redirected from sweeps under the carpet)

the red-carpet treatment

roll out the red carpet - to give an important person a special welcome. She was given the red-carpet treatment in Japan where her books are extremely popular.

roll out the red carpet

to give an important person a special welcome. The red carpet was rolled out for the President's visit.

See also: red, roll

sweep something under the carpet (British, American & Australian, American & Australian)

to try to hide a problem or keep a problem secret instead of dealing with it. The incident has forced into the open an issue that the government would rather have swept under the carpet. The evidence was on film and the police couldn't just sweep it under the rug.

See also: sweep

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roll out the red carpet (for someone)

to give a special welcome to someone important. This city has rolled out the red carpet for women's fashion buyers and the media.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of red carpet (= a thick red covering for a floor or other surface that is put down for important guests to walk on)

See also: red, roll

sweep something under the carpet

to hide something embarrassing. The problem is usually ignored or swept under the carpet.

See also: sweep