whitewash

[ˈwaɪtwɒʃ]

whitewash Definition

• 1. a deliberate concealment of someone's mistakes or faults in order to clear their name
• 2. a 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

• concealment
• deception
• camouflage
• masking
• cover-up

Antonyms for whitewash

• disclosure
• exposure
• uncovering

Idioms Using whitewash

• a whitewash victory

  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.

• whitewash the truth

  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.

• whitewash the past

  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

• whitewash the fence

  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.

• whitewash over something

  to cover up or conceal something unpleasant or embarrassing

  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'

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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.