sweep the fact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sweep the fact" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and lacks context for proper usage. Example: "We need to address the issue directly instead of trying to sweep the fact under the rug."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Also, both her mom and her boss seem to want to sweep the fact that she was fired -- which is pretty devastating -- under the rug.

Huffington Post

It's unclear as to whether McHenry had the video pulled out of a sense of new-found responsibility to America's Armed Forces, or whether he just thinks he can sweep the fact under the rug that he got caught trying to burnish his own foreign policy credentials at the expense of troops serving in combat.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In a robust defence, Jones wrote that "an adequate work of art about the war has to show its horror, not sweep the grisly facts under a red carpet of artificial flowers".

The Guardian

"It does not censor the thought of the past: if Newton was an alchemist as well as the father of experimental physics, you don't sweep this fact under the carpet, but look to see how it contributed to his thought; astrology may be unscientific, but people in the past believed in it and painted pictures about it,so if you study it you find out what it meant to them".

The Guardian

To sweep the clouds away?

The New Yorker

Sweep the stairs.

The New York Times - Books

"They sweep the streets.

The New York Times

Sweep the floor.

WikiHow

Sweep the floor daily.

WikiHow

Sweep the floor, including baseboards.

WikiHow

His achievements were reflected by the fact that BBC dramas swept the board with Tom Hollander winning best actor for BBC2's A Poet In New York, Sarah Lancashire taking best actor (woman) for Happy Valley, Casualty scooping best continuing drama and BBC2 dramas The Honourable Woman and Line of Duty winning best and Drama Serial and drama series, respectively.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to convey the idea of disregarding or ignoring a piece of information, avoid using the phrase "sweep the fact". Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "ignore the fact" or "overlook the fact".

Common error

A common mistake is combining words that don't form a standard or logical phrase. "Sweep the fact" doesn't have an established meaning in English; using it can confuse your audience. Rely on established idioms and common phrases to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sweep the fact" functions as a verb phrase attempting to convey the action of concealing or ignoring a piece of information. However, Ludwig AI flags this phrase as incorrect, suggesting it deviates from standard grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sweep the fact" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect and not commonly used in standard English. Although attempts to use it appear in various contexts, especially in News & Media, it is advisable to opt for more established and clear alternatives such as "ignore the fact" or "overlook the fact". These alternatives accurately convey the intended meaning of disregarding or concealing information, while avoiding potential confusion. Using idiomatic expressions like "sweep it under the rug" is preferable in situations where the intention is to describe hiding or covering up something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ignore the fact

Direct replacement focusing on disregarding the information.

overlook the fact

Similar to ignoring, but implies a less deliberate oversight.

disregard the fact

Emphasizes a deliberate choice to not consider the information.

conceal the truth

Focuses on hiding information rather than simply ignoring it.

hide the reality

Similar to concealing the truth, highlighting the act of covering up what is actually happening.

downplay the significance

Reduces the importance of the information.

brush aside the truth

Implies a dismissive attitude towards the facts.

bury the reality

Suggests a more forceful attempt to suppress the information.

obfuscate the details

Making the details unclear or confusing.

suppress the evidence

Active prevention of facts from becoming known.

FAQs

How can I correctly express the idea of ignoring a fact?

Instead of "sweep the fact", use phrases like "ignore the fact", "overlook the fact", or "disregard the fact".

Is "sweep the fact" a commonly used phrase in English?

No, "sweep the fact" is not a standard or commonly used phrase. It's better to use more established expressions like "sweep under the rug" when referring to hiding something.

What is a more idiomatic way to express hiding or covering up a fact?

A more idiomatic expression is "sweep it under the rug", which implies concealing or ignoring something, especially a problem or mistake.

Why is "sweep the fact" considered incorrect?

The verb "sweep" typically requires an object that is a tangible item or area (e.g., "sweep the floor"). Using "fact" as the object doesn't align with the conventional usage of "sweep". It's clearer to use alternatives such as "ignore the fact".