gloss over (something)
The report glossed over the company's financial difficulties, focusing only on its recent successes.
gloss over — 3 meanings
Same words, different jobs. Compare the meanings side by side so you know which one fits the situation.
phrasal verb3 meanings
gloss oversame phrase
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avoid addressing (something negative or unpleasant)
The report glossed over the company's recent financial problems, focusing instead on future plans.
gloss (a word/term)
The professor glossed the term 'cognitive dissonance' for the students who were unfamiliar with it.
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Meanings in detail
1. gloss over (something)
C1neutralboth
to deliberately avoid discussing or paying attention to something unpleasant or important, often to make a situation seem better than it really is
The report glossed over the company's financial difficulties, focusing only on its recent successes.
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Sign in to unlock2. avoid addressing (something negative or unpleasant)
C1neutralboth
to deliberately avoid discussing or paying attention to something, especially a problem or mistake, often making it seem less serious than it really is
The report glossed over the company's recent financial problems, focusing instead on future plans.
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Sign in to unlock3. gloss (a word/term)
C2formalwritten
to briefly explain the meaning of a word or phrase, especially when it is technical or unfamiliar
The professor glossed the term 'cognitive dissonance' for the students who were unfamiliar with it.
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