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  What it means

  Literally “to sweep under the rug.” It refers to the act of hiding problems, scandals, or inconvenient facts instead of addressing them openly. It suggests that while the floor looks clean on the surface, the “dirt” or trouble is still there, just out of sight.

  Vocabulary

  • zamiatać — to sweep
  • dywan — rug / carpet
  • ukrywać — to hide / conceal
  • problem — problem

  Grammar note

  The preposition 'pod' (under) here takes the accusative case ('dywan') because it implies the motion of sweeping something into that location. If something were already lying there, you would use the instrumental case ('pod dywanem').

  Cultural context

  This is a universal idiom frequently used in Polish media and politics when discussing lack of transparency or avoidant behavior in public institutions.

  Beginner

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