looking the other way; hushing up a problem
Idiomatic expression meaning to cover up something unpleasant or inconvenient rather than dealing with it openly. Often used critically to describe avoiding necessary confrontation or sweeping issues under the rug.
The company hushed up the scandal and didn't disclose anything.
A response that just sweeps the problem under the rug won't solve anything.
Describes a situation being left vague or unresolved. 臭いものに蓋 implies a deliberate act of concealment, while うやむや can happen passively.
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
Variant using 物 instead of もの.
Literally 'put a lid on something smelly.' The expression uses the image of covering a foul odor to figuratively mean hiding or suppressing an unpleasant matter. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a common Japanese idiom.