gloss over

phrasal verb

Pronunciation: /ɡlɒs ˈəʊvə(r)/

Definition

Avoid addressing a difficult or unpleasant topic by treating it as unimportant or mentioning it only briefly.

Examples

• The politician attempted to gloss over the controversy by shifting the conversation to economic growth.

• Don't try to gloss over your mistakes; we need to discuss exactly what went wrong.

• The article glosses over the environmental impact of the new factory, focusing instead on job creation.

Synonyms of gloss over

Words with a similar meaning to gloss over:

• ignore
• avoid
• downplay
• skirt
• obfuscate

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