whitewash Definition
- 1a deliberate concealment of someone's mistakes or faults in order to clear their name
- 2a white liquid mixture of lime, water, and other substances used for painting walls or fences
Using whitewash: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "whitewash" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The report was a complete whitewash, failing to mention any of the company's wrongdoings.
Example
The fence needs a fresh coat of whitewash.
Example
The government's investigation was criticized for being a whitewash.
Example
He tried to whitewash his involvement in the scandal.
whitewash Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for whitewash
Antonyms for whitewash
Idioms Using whitewash
a victory in which the winning team or individual dominates the opponent completely
Example
The home team won the game 10-0, a complete whitewash victory.
to conceal or distort the truth in order to make something appear better than it is
Example
The politician tried to whitewash the truth about his voting record.
to present a distorted or idealized version of history that ignores or downplays negative aspects
Example
Some people accuse the government of trying to whitewash the past by omitting certain events from history textbooks.
Phrases with whitewash
to paint a fence with a mixture of lime, water, and other substances to give it a white color
Example
Tom Sawyer tricked his friends into whitewashing the fence for him.
Example
The company tried to whitewash over the scandal by issuing a statement denying any wrongdoing.
whitewash one's reputation
to conceal or gloss over one's mistakes or faults in order to maintain a positive image
Example
He tried to whitewash his reputation by making a large donation to charity.
Origins of whitewash
from 'white' + 'wash'
Summary: whitewash in Brief
The term 'whitewash' [ˈwaɪtwɒʃ] refers to both a deliberate concealment of someone's mistakes or faults and a white liquid mixture of lime, water, and other substances used for painting walls or fences. Examples of the former include 'The report was a complete whitewash,' while the latter is exemplified by 'The fence needs a fresh coat of whitewash.' Phrases like 'whitewash the fence' and idioms like 'whitewash the truth' extend the term's meaning to cover-ups and distortions of various kinds.
