In an effort to keep something humiliating from others, you sweep or brush it under the rug. You attempt to keep your issue under wraps rather than address it. The phrase "sweep anything under the mat/rug" is another alternative for this.

The Government has managed to sweep the cola controversy under the carpet.

The actor tried to sweep the embarrassing incident under the rug.

Where did this phrase originated from? When ordered to clean a carpeted room, what do lazy individuals typically do?
Instead of bending down to gather the dust, they silently sweep it beneath the carpet as they sweep around the carpet.