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Phrasal verbs "cover for" vs "cover up"

Differences between cover for and cover up

Cover for means to take someone's place or responsibility temporarily, while cover up means to hide or conceal something, usually a mistake or wrongdoing.

Meanings and Definitions: cover for vs cover up

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Cover for

  • 1Provide an excuse or alibi.

    She asked me to COVER FOR her if anyone asked where she'd gone.

  • 2Do someone's work while they are temporarily absent.

    I COVERED FOR her while she was off sick.

Cover up

  • 1Conceal, try to stop people finding out.

    They tried to COVER UP the incident but it got into the newspapers.

Usage Examples: cover for, cover up in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

cover for

Example

I always cover for my colleague when he is on vacation.

Example

She covers for her friend when she is sick.

cover up

Example

The company tried to cover up the accident to avoid bad publicity.

Example

He always covers up his mistakes instead of admitting them.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Cover for

stand in for

To take someone's place or responsibility temporarily.

Example

Can you stand in for me at the meeting tomorrow? I have a doctor's appointment.

substitute for

To replace someone or something with another person or thing.

Example

We need to substitute the broken equipment for a new one before the next shift starts.

fill in for

To temporarily take over someone's duties or responsibilities.

Example

I need you to fill in for me while I'm on vacation next week.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Cover up

conceal

To hide or keep something secret.

Example

He tried to conceal the evidence of his crime by burying the weapon.

whitewash

To cover up or gloss over a mistake or wrongdoing.

Example

The company tried to whitewash the scandal by blaming it on a few rogue employees.

sweep under the rug

To hide or ignore a problem or issue in the hope that it will go away.

Example

The school administration tried to sweep the bullying incidents under the rug instead of addressing them directly.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “cover”

Phrasal Verbs with “up”

Differences in cover for vs cover up: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: cover for or cover up?

In everyday conversation, cover up is more commonly used than cover for. This is because people often need to hide their mistakes or wrongdoings, and cover up is the appropriate phrase to use. Cover for is less common but still used in certain situations, such as when someone needs to take over someone else's responsibilities for a short period of time.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of cover for and cover up

Both cover for and cover up are informal phrases that are suitable for casual conversations. However, cover up can also be used in more formal settings, such as legal or political contexts, where it refers to concealing evidence or information.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of cover for and cover up

The tone of cover for and cover up can differ based on context. Cover for often carries a helpful or supportive tone when related to taking someone's place, while cover up typically has a negative or secretive tone, especially when referring to hiding a mistake or wrongdoing.

cover for & cover up: Synonyms and Antonyms

Cover for

Synonyms

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