How do you say “Put lipstick on a pig” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is maquillar el problema, which literally means “to put makeup on the problem”. English speakers use put lipstick on a pig to mean to hide serious faults with surface improvements. A composed phrase using the established figurative sense of “maquillar”: making something look better than it is. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
maquillar el problema
/makiˈʝaɾ el pɾoˈβlema/
- Literal meaning
- “to put makeup on the problem”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
87 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
Spanish can keep the makeup image without mentioning a pig. “Maquillar el problema” suggests disguising the trouble instead of solving it.
It can imply deliberate concealment more strongly than a merely superficial improvement. Use it when that criticism fits the situation.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning4 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity4 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
Repainting the leaking boat is just putting lipstick on a pig.
Spanish
Pintar de nuevo el barco que hace agua es solo maquillar el problema.
English
A new logo will not fix the poor service; it is lipstick on a pig.
Spanish
Un logotipo nuevo no arreglará el mal servicio; solo maquillará el problema.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-10-01