A fig leaf is a large leaf which comes from the fig tree. A fig leaf is sometimes used in painting and sculpture to cover the genitals of a naked body.
2. countable noun
People sometimes refer disapprovingly to something which is intended to hide or prevent an embarrassing situation as a fig leaf.
[journalism, disapproval]
This deal is little more than a fig leaf for the continued destruction of the landscape.
fig leaf in British English
noun
1.
a leaf from a fig tree
2.
a representation of a leaf, usually a vine leaf rather than an actual fig leaf, used in painting or sculpture to cover the genitals of nude figures
3.
a device intended to conceal something regarded as shameful or indecent
fig leaf in American English
1.
a leaf of a fig tree
2.
a representation of such a leaf used, as in sculpture, to conceal the genitals ofa nude
3.
anything intended to conceal
Examples of 'fig leaf' in a sentence
fig leaf
I closed my eyes again and imagined a fig leaf the size of the heavens.