🧻 Patching Life’s Little Cracks: To Paper Over (The Cracks) 🏚️
To paper over (the cracks)
Definition: To patch up; to repair in a makeshift way.
Background: This term pops up from the good ol’ days of wallpapering, literally covering cracks in the walls with paper. It’s famously linked to Otto von Bismarck describing the 1865 Convention of Gastein using the term “papered over the cracks,” referring to a temporary peace agreement.
Synonyms:
- Band-aid solution 🩹
- Quick fix 🔧
- Temporary patch 🔨
Antonyms:
- Permanent solution 🏆
- Fix it properly 🔩
- Resolve thoroughly 🧠
Humorous Quote: “Temporary solutions sometimes inhabit permanent realities. If you doubt it, just look for wallpaper over cracks.”
- Laughington P. Grout
Related Terms and Expressions:
- Patch things up: To repair a strained relationship or fix something temporarily.
- Sweeping under the rug: To hide a problem rather than fixing it. 🧹
- Cover one’s tracks: To conceal evidence of something. 🕵️♀️
Proverbs:
- “A stitch in time saves nine.” Meaning a small preventative action can avoid more trouble later.
- “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” Sometimes, cosmetic fixes don’t change the reality.
Similar Bird Songs
- “Let It Be” by The Beatles 🎵: An anthem for accepting things the way they come. (Though not exactly about covering up!)
- “Fix You” by Coldplay 🎶: A poignant tune about trying to help someone through repairs—emotional or otherwise.
Suggested Reads
- “The Invisible Man” by H.G Wells: For when no amount of wallpaper will hide what really matters.
- “Catch-22” by Joseph Heller: All about temporary solutions and the insanity of the modern world, hidden under bureaucratic cracks.
In The Movies
- “Money Pit”: A hilarious nod to temporary repairs leading to comedic disaster in home renovations.
- “Patch Adams”: Not about wall cracks, but about patching the cracks in the human spirit.🥼💕
### Which of these phrases means a temporary fix?
- [x] Paper over the cracks
- [ ] Build castles in the air
- [ ] Open Pandora’s box
- [ ] Light at the end of the tunnel
> **Explanation:** "Paper over the cracks" refers to a makeshift repair, whereas the others convey entirely different concepts!
### What does "sweeping under the rug" mean?
- [x] Concealing a problem rather than fixing it
- [ ] Cleaning with extra effort
- [ ] Avoiding emotional issues
- [ ] Leading a prosperous life
> **Explanation:** "Sweeping under the rug" means hiding issues instead of addressing them directly.
### True or False: "Paper over (the cracks)" is an expression that suggests putting in a long-term solution.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False! This idiom suggests a temporary, makeshift repair rather than a lasting one.
### Identify the term aligning with “Cover one's tracks”:
- [ ] Tell the truth
- [ ] Reveal secrets
- [x] Conceal evidence
- [ ] Make a new path
> **Explanation:** "Cover one's tracks" means concealing any evidence of actions.
📚 Crafted by Fixie McPlaster in October 2023. Remember, sometimes it’s not just about the fix, but the lesson behind it. Carry on patching life’s little cracks, but don’t forget to aim for the permanent solutions too! 🛠️💕
