paper over the cracks

Meaning

This expression means to conceal flaws, disagreements, or serious problems with temporary or superficial solutions rather than dealing with the root cause. It suggests that the underlying issue is still there and will likely reappear, much like putting wallpaper over a cracked wall without repairing the structure. It has a critical or cautionary connotation.

Examples

• Offering a small bonus to unhappy employees is just trying to paper over the cracks in our toxic corporate culture.

  Offering a small bonus to unhappy employees is just trying to paper over the cracks in our toxic corporate culture.

• Instead of redesigning the faulty software, the developers just papered over the cracks with a quick patch.

  Instead of redesigning the faulty software, the developers just papered over the cracks with a quick patch.

• The temporary budget increase will only paper over the cracks of our long-term financial deficit.

  The temporary budget increase will only paper over the cracks of our long-term financial deficit.

• We need a permanent solution to this supply chain issue; we can't keep papering over the cracks.

  We need a permanent solution to this supply chain issue; we can't keep papering over the cracks.

• Their public statement was an attempt to paper over the cracks in the partnership.

  Their public statement was an attempt to paper over the cracks in the partnership.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We papered the cracks of our system.

  ✓ We papered over the cracks of our system.

  The full phrasal verb is 'paper over', referencing the physical act of pasting wallpaper over a flaw.

• ✗ He papered over the cracks by completely rebuilding the database.

  ✓ He fixed the system by completely rebuilding the database.

  'Paper over the cracks' refers to superficial, temporary, or deceptive fixes, not thorough, permanent solutions.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Hiring temporary staff will only ___________; we need to address the high turnover rate.

  💡 Hide a deeper problem with a quick fix.

  Show answer

  paper over the cracks

• The manager tried to ___________ in the team by organizing a quick lunch, but the tension remained.

  💡 Cover up structural conflicts superficially.

  Show answer

  paper over the cracks