To sweep it under the carpet is to hide a problem instead of dealing with it. They tried to sweep it under the carpet.
It is always a criticism, since the problem is still there and now hidden as well. Americans say sweep it under the rug, which is the same picture.
1phrasesweep it under the carpetTo hide a problem instead of dealing with it.
“The complaint was serious enough that nobody could sweep it under the carpet.”
sweep it under the carpet is a phrase.
Practised in Idioms