mantel der liefde

Dutch

Etymology

Literally, “cloak/coat of love”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌmɑn.təl dɛr ˈlif.də/

Noun

mantel der liefde m (plural mantels der liefde)

1. (figurative, chiefly singular) A metaphorical cover of faults or wrongs, whether informed by an attitude of forgiveness or applied out of expediency, allowing one to condone or ignore them without investigating any problems, identifying underlying causes, etc.

   Het meningsverschil was daarmee niet opgelost, maar met de mantel der liefde bedekt.

   The disagreement was not resolved by that, but covered with the ‘mantle of love’.

Usage notes

• Commonly used in the prepositional phrase met de mantel der liefde, often with a verb like bedekken or toedekken, to suggest that something is figuratively swept under the rug.