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The accords were fig leaves of democratic procedure to hide the nakedness of Stalinist dictatorship.
George F. Kennan

Meaning of "fig leaves" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF FIG LEAVES

fig leaves  [fɪɡ liːvz] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF FIG LEAVES

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Fig leaves 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 LEAVES MEAN IN ENGLISH?

fig leaves

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.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH FIG LEAVES


beeves
biːvz
eaves
iːvz
greaves
ɡriːvz
Hargreaves
ˈhɑːɡriːvz
heaves
hiːvz
interleaves
ˈɪntəˌliːvz
kerchieves
ˈkɜːtʒiːvz
leaves
liːvz
longleaves
ˈlɒŋliːvz
Maldives
ˈmɔːlˈdiːvz
parkleaves
ˈpɑːkˌliːvz
sheaves
ʃiːvz
thickleaves
ˈθɪkˌliːvz
thieves
θiːvz
underleaves
ˌʌndərˈliːvz

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE FIG LEAVES

fig
fig leaf
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 LEAVES

airwaves
broadleaves
Chinese leaves
cloverleaves
continuous waves
de Broglie waves
flagstaves
flyleaves
Graves
haves
loaves
make waves
maple leaves
matter waves
quarterstaves
shinleaves
staves
tea leaves
the heaves
the waves

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

SYNONYMS

Translation of «fig leaves» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF FIG LEAVES

Find out the translation of fig leaves to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of fig leaves 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 leaves» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

无花果树的叶子
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

hojas de higuera
570 millions of speakers

English

fig leaves
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

अंजीर के पत्तों
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

أوراق التين
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

фиговые листья
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

folhas de figueira
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

ডুমুর পাতা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

feuilles de figuier
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Daun ara
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Feigenblätter
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

Godhong ara
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

lá sung
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

அத்தி இலைகள்
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

अंजीर पाने
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

Incir yaprakları
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

foglie di fico
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

liście figowe
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

фігові листки
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

frunze de smochin
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

φύλλα συκής
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

vyeblare
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

fikonlöv
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

fikenblader
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of fig leaves

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «FIG LEAVES»

The term «fig leaves» is regularly used and occupies the 102.486 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Regularly used
52
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «fig leaves» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of fig leaves
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «fig leaves».

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

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «fig leaves» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «fig leaves» 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 leaves

EXAMPLES

QUOTES WITH «FIG LEAVES»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word fig leaves.
1
George F. Kennan
The accords were fig leaves of democratic procedure to hide the nakedness of Stalinist dictatorship.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «FIG LEAVES»

Discover the use of fig leaves in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to fig leaves and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
The Gospel in Genesis: From Fig Leaves to Faith
Is there any hope?” you’ll find answers in Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s study of Genesis. In this series of never-before-published sermons, beloved teacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones walks readers through the early chapters of Genesis.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, 2009
2
Fig Leaves and Skin Tunics
Brown provides a new twist on parables that illustrate covenant truths throughout "Fig Leaves and Skin Tunics." She reveals how kingdom standards breathe life into the culture of death Adam ignites. (Motivation)
Edna Brown, 2007
3
The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods
Fig leaves have repeatedly been shown to have antidiabetic properties and can actually re- duce the amount of insulin needed by persons with diabetes who require insulin injections. In one study, a liquid extract made from fig leaves was ...
Michael T. Murray, Joseph E. Pizzorno, 2005
4
Searching for Meaning in Midrash
Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loincloths. MIDRASH TEXT Genesis Rabbah 19,6 And they perceived that they were naked.
Michael Katz Gershon Schwartz
5
Genesis
Suddenly the focus of the man and woman is on themselves and not on the task of working and guarding the garden.25 The material used to meet that desire, fig leaves, is pitifully inadequate. When we as men and women try to fix our ...
Paul J. Kissling, 2004
6
Religious freedom and the constitution
Fig Leaves versus Frames Having used the Italian Renaissance and Fra Angelico as our prime ex- ample of the public framing of objects with religious content, we are tempted to borrow from an adjacent tradition of Italian painting: in the late ...
Christopher L. Eisgruber, Lawrence G. Sager, 2009
7
Drop the Fig Leaf
Allowing fig leaves to be present in our lives does not happen without cost. Our loss of freedom is a growing separation from how we were created to live, and how we now feel forced to live. As the fig leaves pile on us, it is not just you or I that ...
Everest Bryce, 2013
8
The Book Of Blasphemy
But when their menfolk still insisted that they wore the fig-leaves they put them on . Then they strutted in front of each other, and boldly asked each other for their opinion as to whether their fig-leaves suited them or not. For they were not half as  ...
Biker Bob, 2004
9
The Parable of the Fig Tree
... *fig leaves together and made themselves covering.” Was this a coincidence that Adam and Eve picked fig leaves to cover themselves? Were fig leaves the first thing that Adam and Eve could get their hands on, or was it because fig leaves ...
Jerry O. Roberg, 2011
10
Playing for Real : A Text on Game Theory: A Text on Game Theory
The prices of fig leaves and apples are p and q, where the numeraire is dollars. Bob has $M, with which he can buy any bundle (f,a) of fig leaves and apples for which pfþqa M. Why does Bob demand f1⁄4M/3p fig leaves and a1⁄42M/3q apples  ...
London (Emeritus) Ken Binmore Professor of Economics University College, 2007

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «FIG LEAVES»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term fig leaves is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree? A Bible Study
... but the fig tree was also referenced when Adam and Eve “sewed fig leaves together to hide their nakedness” (Gen 3:7) after they had sinned. «Patheos, Jul 15»
2
A Shattered Adam Statue Comes to Life at the Met
... this newly imagined Adam is liable to offer up a learned disquisition on the use of fig leaves in Renaissance art or an irreverent “What's up, ... «New York Times, Jul 15»
3
A Lot Like Eve
... a peace in Adam and Eve's nakedness, “at home in your own skin… not cringing in shame” and unadorned by fig leaves, clothes or make-up. «The Saturday Paper, Jul 15»
4
Sidekicks star in prequel 'Minions'
... clever sight gags, including a scene of early Minions scampering about on prehistoric Earth, wearing little fig leaves – covering what, exactly? «iFreePress.com, Jul 15»
5
cook | Figs pair nicely with fruits, meats, sweets
Adam and Eve clothed their nakedness with fig leaves. Maimonides and others ascribed medicinal value to the fig, which biologically is a ... «Jweekly.com, Jul 15»
6
OUTSIDE MULLINGAR Comes to Saint Michael's Playhouse, 7/15-25
Kenneth Kimmins (Tony) Broadway: The Music Man, Company (also in London), Status Quo Vadis, The Magic Show and The Fig Leaves Are ... «Broadway World, Jul 15»
7
Should the Minions Have Gotten Their Own Movie? The Answer Is …
... including a scene of early Minions scampering about on prehistoric Earth, wearing little fig leaves — covering what, exactly? Your guess is as ... «L.A. Weekly, Jul 15»
8
Southern heritage under attack
The North has their fig leaves of anti-slavery and preserving the union, and the South has their romantic “lost cause” (a euphemism for “No ... «Chatham Star-Tribune, Jul 15»
9
Uncovered BBC memo spells out what was NSFW in the 1940s
... lavatories or "effeminacy in men", and well as references to "ladies' underwear" and fig leaves, amongst a whole host of other "crudities.". «Mashable, Jul 15»
10
Apple's App Store could take a lesson from Apple Music on the …
... possible legal actions when we find that the sanctimonious representations of fairness are clumsy fig leaves covering human shenanigans. «Quartz, Jul 15»

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