complexion

put a new complexion on (something)

To alter the appearance, perception, or interpretation of something; to recontextualize something so as to suggest a new or different interpretation. The information given to us by the former secretary certainly puts a new complexion on the whole incident. I recommend that we drop the charges for now. The leaked email chain detailing the former Chief Operating Officer's protests against the company's policy puts a new complexion on his sudden firing last week.

See also: complexion, new, on, put

put a different complexion on (something)

To alter the appearance, perception, or interpretation of something; to recontextualize something so as to suggest a new or different interpretation. The information given to us by the former secretary certainly puts a different complexion on the whole incident. I recommend that we drop the charges for now. The leaked email chain detailing the former Chief Operating Officer's protests against the company's policy puts a different complexion on his sudden firing last week.

See also: complexion, different, on, put

schoolgirl complexion

Fresh, glowing, unblemished skin, as in She's fifty but she still has her schoolgirl complexion. This expression, alluding to the beauty of young skin, was invented for an advertising campaign for Palmolive Soap, which ran from about 1923 through the 1930s and claimed to preserve one's schoolgirl complexion.

See also: complexion

put a new/different comˈplexion on something

change the way that a situation appears: What the police officer had just told me put quite a different complexion on the mystery.

See also: complexion, different, new, on, put, something