gloss over
Treat too lightly
To gloss over something is to treat it superficially or minimize its importance, often to avoid embarrassment or difficult discussion: The report glossed over the company's safety violations.
The phrase suggests applying a deceptively smooth surface—like a coat of gloss paint—to something that deserves closer scrutiny.
He glossed over his role in the scandal.
Diminish perceived importance
- understateExpress with restraint
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- soft-pedalDiminish stated significance
- trivializeMake light of
de-emphasize · diminish · belittle · underplay · brush aside · skim over · skip over · pass over
Conceal misdeeds or errors
camouflage · paper over · whitewash · airbrush · sanitize · smooth over · cloak · screen
downplay
Diminish perceived importance
- understateExpress with restraint
- play downDiminish perceived significance
- soft-pedalDiminish stated significance
trivialize · de-emphasize · diminish · belittle · underplay · brush aside · skim over · skip over · pass over · make light of
cover up
Conceal misdeeds or errors
obscure · camouflage · paper over · whitewash · airbrush · sanitize · smooth over · cloak · screen · shroud
overlook
Miss or commanding view
omit · bypass · miss · neglect · sidestep · avoid · evade · dodge · leave out · pass by
buff
Avid fan; also burnish
smooth · glaze · wax · burnish · finish · luster · sheen · sleek · gleam · enamel
- cover-upscover up, conceal, hush up, suppress, whitewash
- skim readingscan, glance, browse, flip through, leaf through
- dismissingbrush aside, brush off, wave off, shrug off, blow off
- sugarcoatingsweeten, soften, whitewash, soft-pedal, prettify
- concealmentconceal, hiding, concealing, concealed, hide
- Surface Finishmatte, sheen, luster, polish, finish
gloss overscrutinize
Inspect with close attention
dig into · investigate · probe · pore over · dissect
gloss overemphasize
Stress the importance of
accentuate · underline · highlight · underscore · stress
glossy, gloss, glossary, glossed, glosses, glossing, glossed over, glossing over