fig leaf

Definitions

1. A leaf of the fig plant.
2. A representation of leaf of a fig plant used to cover the genitals of a nude figure in a work of art (alluding to Genesis iii 7, in which Adam and Eve use fig leaves to hide their nakedness).
3. Anything used to conceal something undesirable or that one does not want to be discovered.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“True, David Brog, one of the organizers of last⟳ week’s conference, insisted that national conservatives are not anti-immigrant. But this is a fig leaf. [University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy] Wax explicitly made an argument for limiting the number⟳ of nonwhites entering the US.”

“In fact, speaking of paedos, the prime minister chose to use⟳ one as a figleaf.”

CEFR level