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Definition

Something obvious and embarrassing that is politely ignored or that goes unacknowledged.

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Origins

After The Emperor's New Clothes, a tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

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In Context

  • "Marks & Spencer announced a 19% fall in annual profits on Tuesday."
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Also Said As

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See Also

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Related Idioms

p

put one's foot in one's mouth

To misspeak; to say something embarrassing or wrong, or to make a mist …

s

sweep something under the rug

To conceal a problem (usually an embarrassing or illegal one) expedien …

l

live down

To cause others to forget about something embarrassing that happened t …

a

a little of something goes a long way

Only a small amount of something is usually required to produce a grea …

o

open book

Something whose salient aspects are obvious or easily interpreted.

b

balloon goes up

Something exciting, risky, or troublesome begins.

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