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I've never turned over a fig leaf yet that didn't have a price tag on the other side.
Saul Bellow

Meaning of "fig leaf" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF FIG LEAF

fig leaf play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF FIG LEAF

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Fig leaf is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES FIG LEAF MEAN IN ENGLISH?

fig leaf

Fig leaf

A fig leaf is a leaf of the fig tree. The term is widely used figuratively to convey the covering up of an act or an object that is embarrassing or distasteful with something of innocuous appearance, a metaphorical reference to the Biblical Book of Genesis, in which Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover their nudity after eating the fruit from the Tree of knowledge of good and evil. Some paintings and statues have the genitals of their subjects covered by a representation of an actual fig leaf or similar object, either as part of the work or added afterwards for perceived modesty.

Definition of fig leaf in the English dictionary

The first definition of fig leaf in the dictionary is a leaf from a fig tree. Other definition of fig leaf is 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. Fig leaf is also a device intended to conceal something regarded as shameful or indecent.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE FIG LEAF

fig
fig leaves
fig marigold
fig-bird
fig.
figeater
figged
figgery
figging
fight
fight back
fight it out
fight like Kilkenny cats
fight off
fight shy of
fight-or-flight
fightable
fightback
fighter
fighter jet

WORDS THAT END LIKE FIG LEAF

bay leaf
Chinese leaf
compound leaf
dock leaf
drop leaf
gold leaf
in leaf
leaf
loose-leaf
oak leaf
overleaf
scale leaf
seed leaf
senna leaf
tea leaf
tobacco leaf
trefoil leaf
turn over a new leaf
vine leaf
walking leaf

Synonyms and antonyms of fig leaf in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «fig leaf» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF FIG LEAF

Find out the translation of fig leaf to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of fig leaf from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «fig leaf» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

遮羞布
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

hoja de parra
570 millions of speakers

English

fig leaf
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

अंजीर का पत्ता
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

ورقة التين
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

фиговый листок
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

folha de figo
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

ডুমুর গাছের পাতা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

feuille de vigne
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Daun ara
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Feigenblatt
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

イチジクの葉
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

무화과 잎
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Rwaning woh
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

lá sung
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

அத்தி இலை
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

अंजीर पान
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

incir yaprağı
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

foglia di fico
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

listek figowy
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

фіговий листок
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

frunze de smochin
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

φύλλο συκής
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

vyeblaar
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

fikonlöv
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

fikenblad
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of fig leaf

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «FIG LEAF»

The term «fig leaf» is normally little used and occupies the 114.998 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Little used
46
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «fig leaf» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of fig leaf
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «fig leaf».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «FIG LEAF» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «fig leaf» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «fig leaf» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about fig leaf

EXAMPLES

3 QUOTES WITH «FIG LEAF»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word fig leaf.
1
Freda Adler
The type of fig leaf which each culture employs to cover its social taboos offers a twofold description of its morality. It reveals that certain unacknowledged behavior exists and it suggests the form that such behavior takes.
2
Saul Bellow
I've never turned over a fig leaf yet that didn't have a price tag on the other side.
3
Bethany McLean
Home ownership was the fig leaf for the rise in subprime lending. But that was really about cash-out refinancings, not buying homes.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «FIG LEAF»

Discover the use of fig leaf in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to fig leaf and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Hand Me a Fig-Leaf
When Johnny Jackson unaccountably disappears, his grandfather contacts the police for help.
James Hadley Chase, 2013
2
Under the Fig Leaf: A Cookbook for Fig Lovers
In addition to great fig recipes, this cookbook includes educational information about figs: preparation, selection, freezing, drying options, rehydration, packaging, and storage tips.
Sherri Lee, 2009
3
The Fig Leaf Conspiracy: Sexuality As It Was Meant to Be
In this timely book, Jimmy Evans exposes an ancient plot designed to rob every man and woman of joy, fulfillment, health and genuine intimacy—the progressive distortion of God-given sexuality.
Jimmy Evans, 2008
4
Your Fig Leaf
Using the fig leaf story of Adam and Eve and examples from modern life, this book traces the universal human tendency to pretend to be something someone is not, then points the way to freedom and honesty. (Christian Religion)
Paul Sheetz, 2002
5
Me Without My Fig Leaf: The Journey Back from Five Senses to Six
Authenticity is the only path to happiness. Author Stacy Heatherly is a spiritual counselor and intuitive, and she has written this book to help the many people she cannot interact with on a personal basis.
Stacy Heatherly, 2012
6
Back to Eden: A Human Interest Story of Health and ...
The leaves boiled in Crisco make an excellent ointment. Fig leaf tea is excellent to wash old sores. Where the flesh has turned black from bruises or blows, bathing with the warm tea stimulates the circulation and carries away the discoloration.
Jethro Kloss, 1989
7
Israeli Poetry of the Holocaust
Second, on an ideological level, the fact that the poem challenges the biblical chronicles of the fig leaf is neither random nor arbitrary. Hence, in the poem's fifth line, the fig leaf is in haste to cover the forefathers' nakedness. This is despite the  ...
Yair Mazor, 2008
8
75 Remarkable Fruits for Your Garden
In 528 B.C., Siddhartha Gautama attained true enlightenment and founded Buddhism while sitting under a fig tree. As every art historian knows, remove a fig leaf and uncover something sensational. Botanically, the edible fig may constitute the ...
Jack Staub, 2009
9
Olive Branch
equally fond of the fig-leaf; as their own countrymen, the Prophets are constantly charging them. Justice, Mercy, and Truth, had it seems, no charms for them. They must have fig-leaf substitutes, such as tythings of mint, anise and cummin, and ...
10
The Dove, the Fig-Leaf and the Sword: Why Christianity ...
? Why have the churches in more recent years and a more secular age apparently taken a more cautious approach to war? These are the sort of questions this absorbing book sets out to answer.
Alan Billings, 2014

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «FIG LEAF»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term fig leaf is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Artful Shopper: Fig Leaf Boutique
Talking shop with Laura Clancy, president of New Mission Systems International which opened Fig Leaf Boutique in Fort Myers . When did Fig ... «The News-Press, Jul 15»
2
How Greece went from victory to economy-destroying defeat
Sure, Europe might offer the fig leaf of future debt talks, but that was one it'd already given Greece in 2012. The only thing that's changed is ... «Washington Post, Jul 15»
3
Club events in SW Florida for July 13-19
Grand Opening Fig Leaf Boutique 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The Fig Leaf Boutique, 2701 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. Join the Christian Chamber ... «The News-Press, Jul 15»
4
Southwest Florida Chamber Connections
They are celebrating the grand opening of The Fig Leaf Boutique, an upscale, second hand store benefiting global missions and will sell gently ... «The News-Press, Jul 15»
5
My review of Beach Bay Cafe
Chunks of lime tequila semifreddo and bits of angel food cake sat over a base of fig leaf cream. I liked all the elements. A pistachio cake was ... «Vancouver Sun, Jul 15»
6
Misusing RTI: Why using it for information already in public domain …
While the fig leaf of threat to life is laughable, the RTI applicant is equally at fault. He should have hotfooted to the sub-registrar of properties' ... «Firstpost, Jul 15»
7
Opinion: It's All Good— Laytonville's embattled farmers
JM lives on a ridge on the protean frontier between Potter & Redwood valleys, where income pays tribute to statute with the fig leaf of medical ... «The Willits News, Jul 15»
8
West Australian departmental reports question the viability of much …
“This is a fig leaf to cover the ongoing decline in pastoralism. What if you want to move into tourism or carbon farming? None of this funding is ... «The Australian, Jul 15»
9
Ferry strike off – RMT take the fig leaf option
In a clear signal that its industrial action and threat of more tomorrow has been grossly misplaced and has had a negative impact on itself, the ... «For Argyll, Jul 15»
10
The Paris Climate-Change Spectacular
In May, the United States Department of Energy convened a private meeting to discuss this technology, which will be the fig leaf used by the ... «Today's Zaman, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Fig leaf [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/fig-leaf>. Apr 2024 ».
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