paper over

hide a problem or disagreement instead of really fixing it

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What does "paper over sth" mean?

To paper over something is to hide or disguise a serious problem, conflict, or flaw without actually fixing it — like sticking wallpaper over a crumbling wall. The surface may look smooth, but the underlying damage remains untouched. The phrase almost always carries a critical or disapproving tone: it implies that someone has chosen cosmetic appearances over genuine resolution, often for convenience or political expediency. It is most at home in political commentary, journalism, and analytical writing, where writers want to signal that a settlement, policy, or agreement is superficial rather than substantive. The collocation 'paper over the cracks' is so frequent it functions almost as a fixed idiom in its own right.

Examples

How to use it

paper over + noun (problem/division/conflict)

The most common structure — 'paper over' takes a direct object naming the concealed problem, always placed after the full phrasal verb.

The budget proposals simply paper over the structural weaknesses in the public finances.

paper over the cracks (in + noun)

This near-fixed collocation is especially frequent and can optionally be extended with 'in' to specify where the cracks lie.

The hastily drafted compromise merely papered over the cracks in the coalition's fragile unity.

attempt/try to paper over + noun

Often used with verbs like 'try', 'attempt', or 'manage to', reinforcing the sense that concealment is deliberate but ultimately inadequate.

The chairman tried to paper over the divisions within the board before the shareholders' meeting.

paper over + pronoun (it/them)

Pronoun objects follow the same fixed word order — they are never placed between 'paper' and 'over'.

The tensions had been building for years, and the new agreement did nothing to resolve them — it only papered over them.

be papered over

The passive form appears in analytical and journalistic writing when the focus is on what was concealed rather than who concealed it.

Fundamental disagreements about economic policy were papered over during the merger negotiations.

Common Collocations

paper over the crackspaper over differencespaper over divisionspaper over problemspaper over disagreementspaper over tensions

Common Mistakes

Using it for trivial matters

'Paper over' sounds unnatural unless the hidden problem is significant — a serious conflict, a structural flaw, a deep ideological divide. Learners sometimes apply it to minor everyday issues, which strikes native speakers as an odd mismatch of register and scale.

✗ We papered over the small disagreement about where to eat lunch.
✓ We papered over the deep disagreement about the company's long-term strategy.
Confusing 'paper over' with 'gloss over'

'Gloss over' means to skip past something without giving it proper attention — the emphasis is on omission. 'Paper over' implies a more active, cosmetic effort to make a problem look resolved when it is not. Substituting one for the other changes the meaning.

✗ The report glossed over the contradictions with a series of vague commitments.
✓ The report papered over the contradictions with a series of vague commitments.
Splitting the phrasal verb

'Paper over' is inseparable — the object must always come after the full phrase, even when it is a short pronoun. Placing anything between 'paper' and 'over' is always incorrect.

✗ The agreement papered the divisions over for a few months.
✓ The agreement papered over the divisions for a few months.

Usage

This is a formal phrasal verb most at home in political, journalistic, and analytical writing. 'Paper over the cracks' is an especially common fixed phrase worth learning as a unit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'paper over the cracks' a fixed idiom or can I use other objects?

'Paper over the cracks' is so frequent that it is worth learning as a fixed phrase, but 'paper over' is fully productive and takes a wide range of objects: divisions, tensions, disagreements, contradictions, failings, and more. The 'cracks' version simply happens to be the most idiomatic and widely recognised form.

Does 'paper over' always sound critical?

Almost always, yes. Using 'paper over' signals that the speaker or writer disapproves of the approach — it implies someone has avoided a genuine solution in favour of a superficial fix. Adverbs like 'merely', 'simply', and 'only' frequently appear alongside it to sharpen this critical tone.

Can I use 'paper over' in formal or academic writing?

Yes — this is actually where 'paper over' is most at home. It appears regularly in political commentary, journalism, and analytical writing. It would feel out of place in casual conversation, where you would more likely describe the same idea in plainer terms.

What kinds of objects work naturally with 'paper over'?

The object should always refer to something substantial and serious: divisions, conflicts, tensions, disagreements, contradictions, structural weaknesses, or deep-seated flaws. The phrase loses its force — and sounds odd — if applied to something minor or trivial.

Does 'paper over' have other meanings I should know about?

The sense covered here — concealing or superficially disguising a significant problem — is by far the dominant one in modern English. There is a literal meaning (applying paper over a surface), but this is rarely encountered and the figurative sense is what most speakers and writers intend.

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