barrido bajo la alfombra
/barido baxo la alfombɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "swept under the rug" translates to Spanish as barrido bajo la alfombra.
This phrase is used to describe the act of ignoring or hiding a problem or a mistake to avoid dealing with it.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the expression echar tierra sobre el asunto is used to imply hiding or burying something to avoid dealing with it.
Did you know?
- The word alfombra traces its roots back to the Andalusian Arabic word al-ḥánbal, which refers to a specific type of fabric or material.
- The phrase barrido bajo la alfombra is a calque, meaning it is a literal translation of an English idiom rather than an organic Spanish creation.
- In Spanish, the word bajo can be both a preposition meaning 'under' and an adjective meaning 'short' or 'low'.
Examples in context
- La compañía echó tierra sobre el asunto para evitar un escándalo público.The company swept the matter under the rug to avoid a public scandal.
- No podemos seguir barriendo los problemas bajo la alfombra.We cannot keep sweeping the problems under the rug.
- No puedes dejar que el problema sea barrido bajo la alfombra.You cannot let the problem be swept under the rug.
- Todo el escándalo fue barrido bajo la alfombra por la empresa.The whole scandal was swept under the rug by the company.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are discussing a mistake made at work.
- MateoMaría, el jefe quiere que el problema sea barrido bajo la alfombra.María, the boss wants the problem to be swept under the rug.
- MaríaEso no es justo, Mateo. Debemos solucionarlo.That is not fair, Mateo. We must fix it.
- MateoÉl piensa que nadie lo notará.He thinks that nobody will notice it.
- MaríaIgnorar el error no es la solución.Ignoring the error is not the solution.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alfombra, bajo, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
