also: ほおかむり
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
wrapping a cloth around one's head; headscarf covering
Literally tying a towel, scarf, or handkerchief around the head, often covering the cheeks. Commonly associated with traditional thieves or cold-weather protection.
寒いので、頬かぶりをして外に出た。
It was cold, so I went outside with a scarf wrapped around my head.
時代劇の泥棒はよく頬
Thieves in period dramas often have a cloth tied around their head.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
feigning ignorance; turning a blind eye
Figurative use: pretending not to know or see something, as if covering one's eyes with a cloth. Often used in the phrase 頬かぶりをする.
彼は都合の悪いことには頬かぶりをしている。
He turns a blind eye to inconvenient matters.
その問題について、政府は頬かぶりを決め込んだ。
The government decided to feign ignorance about the issue.