pave (something) over

pave (something) over

1. Literally, to cover an area or stretch of land with a manmade substance, especially concrete or asphalt. I can't believe they paved over that beautiful park to make a parking lot. The city is paving over these old dirt roads to provide better access to the campsites.2. By extension, to ignore, disregard, or suppress some problem or issue. The president paved over the reporter's questions about tax evasion by going on a rant about how broken the US tax code is. Don't just pave over the truth, Bob—tell us what's really going on!See also: over, pave

pave over

v.1. To cover thoroughly some surface of land with asphalt, concrete, or other hard surface: The contractor paved over the meadow in order to expand the mall's parking lot. The city paved the dirt road over to accommodate more traffic.2. To willfully ignore or hide some obvious issue or problem: The politician paved over the whole issue of his voting record in his speech. Instead of simply telling us the real story, she tends to pave it over, even if she did nothing wrong.See also: over, pave