Got Something to Hide? Try 'Sweeping It Under the Rug'

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Got Something to Hide? Try 'Sweeping¹ It Under the Rug'

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

On today's show, we go into the home! We talk about a common object that gives us some useful expressions.

That object is a rug. Rugs are floor coverings that serve many purposes in a home. They add color and style to a room. They protect the floor. Rugs can make a home more comfortable and quiet. They can also make a slippery floor safer to walk on.

But since they are on the floor, rugs can trap a lot of dirt. When we clean the floor, it is a good idea to remove the rugs first. This way, you can sweep away all the stuff that gets trapped under it.

But if you don't have time or are feeling a little lazy, you can always clean the floor quickly and just sweep around the rug. The dirt under the rug cannot be seen. It's like it's not there.

And that brings us to our first expression: "to sweep something under the rug."

When we "sweep something under the rug," we try to hide something. What kinds of things do we try to hide? Things that are illegal, unethical, embarrassing, or just wrong.

For example, the corrupt² politician won re-election because he swept all his failures and dirty dealings under the rug.

Here is another example:

Before meeting her new boyfriend's family, my friend carefully and completely swept all her past mistakes under the rug. She wanted a fresh start. She decided³ to keep her complex past hidden.

You might also hear someone say "brush something under the rug." The word "brush" in this case means to clean something off.

Now, as we said earlier, one purpose of a rug it to make the floor safer. But there are also ways that a rug can be dangerous. If someone pulls a rug out from under your feet, you most likely would fall. And you could get hurt.

So, when we "pull the rug from under someone's feet," we put that person in a difficult and unexpected situation. We suddenly take away support or help from them.

For example, I felt like someone had pulled the rug out from under my feet when I found out my apartment building was being torn down. I had only one week to find a new place to live!

You can also say, "to pull the rug out from under someone." It means the same thing.

We finish today's program not with another expression but with a joke.

As we discussed earlier, a rug covers and protects the floor. But the word "cover" has many meanings. "Cover" can also mean to give protection or to pay for something. So, let's say I go out to dinner with a friend and she forgets money. I can say, "I have money. I've got this covered." That means I will pay.

Here is another example:

Some home insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The policies do not protect against high water damage.

Knowing that definition of "cover" helps you understand this joke.

Once there was an old floor in an old house. It learned that the owner of the house wanted to put in a new floor. The floor cried and cried about the bad news. Hearing the floor crying, the rug wanted to make the floor feel better. So, what did the rug say to the floor?

"Don't worry. I've got you covered."

That joke is a pun on the word "cover."

Words in This Story

style – n. a method, manner, or quality that is felt to be very respectable, fashionable, or proper

slippery – adj. causing or tending to cause something to slide or fall

lazy – adj. not liking⁴ or willing to act or work

unethical – adj. not conforming to a high moral standard : morally wrong

embarrassing – adj. causing a feeling of self-conscious confusion and distress⁵

joke – n. something said or done to provoke laughter

insurance – n. coverage⁶ by contract whereby for an agreed payment one party agrees to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified⁷ contingency⁸ or peril⁹

pun– n. a form of joking in which a person uses a word in two senses

1 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

5 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

6 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

7 specified   

adj.特定的

参考例句：

• The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。

8 contingency   

n.意外事件，可能性

参考例句：

• We should be prepared for any contingency.我们应该对任何应急情况有所准备。
• A fire in our warehouse was a contingency that we had not expected.库房的一场大火是我们始料未及的。

9 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。