wrap (redirected from wrap someone up)

drape/wrap yourself in the flag

to pretend to do something for your country when you are really doing it for your own advantage. Companies in the UK are finding it useful to wrap themselves in the British flag.

See also: flag

take the wraps off something

to finally let people know about a new product or plan after keeping it secret for a long time. They have yet to take the wraps off the design for the new opera house.

See also: take

twist/wrap someone around/round your little finger

to be able to persuade someone to do anything you want, usually because they like you so much. He'd do anything you asked him to. You've got him wrapped around your little finger!

See also: around, finger, little, round, twist

under wraps

secret. The financial details of the case have been kept firmly under wraps. The identity of the buyer is still under wraps.

wrap someone up in cotton wool (British & Australian)

to protect someone too much without allowing them to be independent enough. She wraps that child up in cotton wool as if he's some precious jewel.

See also: cotton, wool

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it's a wrap

this is successfully completed. After three months of planning and two years of building, it's a wrap and we've moved into our new home. It was a wrap for the latest unmanned mission to Mars.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of it's a wrap (= the filming of this movie or part of a movie is completed)

See also: it's

keep (something) under wraps

to hide something. The studio is keeping details of the new movie under wraps until its release in May. The painting was bought by someone who wants to keep his name under wraps.

draw a veil over something

See also: keep

take the wraps off something

to make something known that had been secret. Today the company took the wraps off their new electric car.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of wraps (= coats or other clothes worn to keep warm)

See also: take

wrap yourself in the flag

to say that that your beliefs or actions are only to benefit your country. Politicians are usually happy to wrap themselves in the flag and avoid the issues.

See also: flag

wrap up something

to complete or stop doing something. The president will wrap up his visit to China on Thursday. It's late and I have to get home, so let's wrap it up and finish tomorrow.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of wrap something up (= to put paper around something to cover it)