Was a Fig Leaf?

Something which is intended to hide an embarrassing or awkward situation can be called a fig leaf. The Code of Practice must be enforced, or else it is just a meaningless fig leaf. He said that retaining Stewart in a creative role was a `generous fig leaf that the company gave her'.

What does it mean to give someone a fig leaf?

The expression "fig leaf" is widely used figuratively to convey the covering up of an act or an object that is embarrassing or distasteful with something of innocuous appearance, a metaphorical reference to the Biblical Book of Genesis in which Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover their nudity after eating the ...

How do you use fig leaf in a sentence?

a covering consisting of anything intended to conceal something regarded as shameful.
  1. The spokesperson said the information campaign was a fig leaf to hide the most regressive tax in history.
  2. This deal is little more than a fig leaf for the continued destruction of the landscape.
  3. But this fig leaf fooled no one.
James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.