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. Please gloss over any bad news when you visit Jenny—she's already pretty bummed about how slow her surgery recovery is going.
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. Don't worry—your findings are positive, so the boss will gloss over everything else in your report. You can't just gloss over a contract like that, you have to actually read it—or have a lawyer do it!
lip gloss
An exaggeration, misrepresentation, or distortion of reality, especially to make it seem happier, more innocent, or more carefree. Popular culture has taught young women that they will be happy so long as they find the right man to take care of this, but we all ought to know by now that that is just lip gloss smeared on emotional manipulation.
put a gloss on (something)
To make something appear more positive, acceptable, or palatable than it really is. They're putting a gloss on their poor sales figures by claiming that December sales will more than make up the difference. Stop putting a gloss on the failure, Jim—let's just move on.
take the gloss off (of) (something)
To detract from or overshadow the positive aspects of something. We had a lovely picnic until a dead bird just dropped out of the sky next to us. Yeah, that took the gloss off things a bit. It was a resounding win, but unfortunately, the injury to their star forward takes some of the gloss off of it.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.