whitewash

1. (transitive)To paint (a building, a wall, etc.) a bright white with whitewash.

   Near-synonym: limewash (often coinstantial)

   The houses looked very bright after they had whitewashed the whole neighbourhood.

   etwas weiß anstreichen, weißen, weißeln

   бели́тьbelítʹ, побели́тьpobelítʹ

2. (derogatory, figuratively, transitive)To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people.

3. To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people.

   (derogatory, figuratively, transitive)To cast a white actor in a role for a person of colour in (a film, television programme, etc.).

4. (derogatory, figuratively, transitive)To make over (someone of colour) so that they appear more white, for example, by applying lightening makeup to their skin or digitally manipulating an image of them.

5. (figuratively, literary, poetic, transitive)To cover or coat (something) with a white substance, as if with whitewash (noun sense 1); also, to light up (something) with white light.

   cover with whitewash

6. (figuratively, transitive)To clear (someone's) debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court; also, to clear or write off (a debt).

7. (figuratively, often, transitive)To hide (someone's) mistakes, or to create an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc., for (someone); also, to intentionally hide or overlook (mistakes, unfavourable facts, wrongdoing, etc.).

   In his sermon, the minister didn’t try to whitewash over the sins of his church.

   (sb.) jemanden reinwaschen, etwas schönfärben, etwas beschönigen

   обели́тьobelítʹ

8. (figuratively, informal, transitive)To achieve a complete victory or series of victories over (an opponent) without suffering any losses; also, to achieve a victory or series of victories over (an opponent) by a very large margin.

   Australia whitewashed the West Indies 3–0.

9. (intransitive)To paint bright white with whitewash (noun sense 1).

10. (figuratively, intransitive)To have debts cleared through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court.

11. (archaic, historical, transitive)To make (the face, etc.) look lighter with makeup or a similar preparation.

12. (obsolete, transitive)Synonym of bleach (“to treat (fabric) with a substance which lightens or whitens”).

1. The politician tried to whitewash the poor job he did dealing with the coronavirus.

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2. With dramatic suddenness he struck a match, and by its light exposed a stain of blood upon the whitewashed wall.

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