Dictionary

gloss over en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash.
   • Plausibility, I know, can only be unmasked by shewing the absurdities it glosses over, and the simple truths it involves with specious errors. 1790, Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Men:
   • They glossed over the problem, hoping that the customers wouldn't notice.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To treat something with less care than it in some ways deserves; to ignore, or at least to discount or dismiss for the current purposes.
   • This book only glosses over quantum mechanics; it doesn't go into detail.
   • "I am afraid that we are trespassing," said the doctor, awkward between his promise to the girl and the necessity of glossing over the situation. "My friend is interested in antiquities—" 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:

Forms

Coordinates

shortchange

Relateds

glaze over · make light of

Synonyms

paper over

Translations (17)

es ocultar (to cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash) · no glatte over (to cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash) · pl zrobić wzmiankę (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · ru пробежаться (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · pl przykrywać (to cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash) · es restar importancia (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · es encubrir (to cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash) · pl przykryć (to cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash) · es dejar pasar por alto (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · pl robić wzmiankę (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · es pasar por alto (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · cs zamluvit (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · ka მიფუჩეჩება (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · ru вкратце касаться (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · ru замалчивать (to cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash) · it sorvolare (to treat something with less care than it deserves; to ignore) · it insabbiare (to cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash)