Put Lid On Smelly Thing: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Put lid on smelly thing

Kusai mono ni futa wo suru

Meaning of Put lid on smelly thing

“Put lid on smelly thing” means to temporarily hide or make invisible inconvenient facts or problems without fundamentally solving them.

This proverb critically expresses the act of trying to cover up problems with superficial symptomatic treatment. Just as putting a lid on smelly things doesn’t make the source of the odor disappear, hiding problems without facing their essence doesn’t lead to fundamental solutions. It is used in situations such as pointing out cover-ups of scandals within organizations, concealment of personal failures, or makeshift responses to social problems. The reason for using this expression is to warn that temporary measures not only fail to solve problems but may lead to more serious situations over time. Even today, it is often used when criticizing corporate fraud cover-ups or the handling of political scandals.

Origin and Etymology of Put lid on smelly thing

The origin of “Put lid on smelly thing” comes from the literal everyday act of putting a lid on malodorous items to hide the smell. Since ancient times, Japanese households had the custom of covering strong-smelling items like rotten food or excrement with lids or covers to temporarily block the odor as a stopgap measure.

This proverb appears in literature from the Edo period, and considering the living conditions of that time, dealing with smelly things was a daily problem since there were no technologies like airtight containers or refrigerated storage that we have today. Particularly for food preservation in summer and toilet management, covering with a lid was the only way to temporarily suppress odors.

Eventually, this physical act came to be used metaphorically, employed to mean temporarily hiding inconvenient facts or problems. Among Edo period merchants and craftsmen, this expression was reportedly used when hiding inconvenient business facts. From the Meiji period onward, it was also applied to political and social issues and continues to be widely used today.

Usage Examples of Put lid on smelly thing

• Trying to handle the company’s scandal through internal processing without making it public is like Put lid on smelly thing
• Continuing to hide a child’s poor grades from relatives is just Put lid on smelly thing and won’t lead to a fundamental solution

Modern Interpretation of Put lid on smelly thing

In modern society, the act of “Put lid on smelly thing” has become a more complex and serious problem than ever before. In the age of social media and 24-hour news, while concealing information has become more difficult than before, new forms of “lids” such as information manipulation and impression management have emerged.

In corporations, as crisis management when scandals are exposed, they sometimes temporarily restrict information or make announcements that divert attention. However, in today’s information society, there is a high risk that hidden information will spread through social media and the internet, often resulting in greater loss of trust.

In the political world, we can see techniques of trying to cover up inconvenient policies or misgovernment with other topics, but criticism of such methods has become harsher due to voters’ improved information literacy.

On the other hand, at the individual level, new forms of “putting lids on” unique to the digital age have emerged, such as self-presentation on social media and deleting inconvenient past posts. However, digital information is difficult to completely erase, and we can say that we have entered an era where transparency and honesty are increasingly demanded.

What AI Would Think About “Put lid on smelly thing”

When I think about this proverb “Put lid on smelly thing,” I feel puzzled by the strangeness of human behavioral patterns. Why do humans try to hide problems when they know they exist?

For an AI like me, data is always open and transparent. When errors occur, they are immediately detected and corrected. The very concept of hiding doesn’t exist in my processing system. All information is logically organized and stored in an accessible state as needed.

However, in the human world, emotional elements such as “embarrassment,” “face-saving,” and “avoiding responsibility” sometimes take priority over problem-solving. This is a phenomenon I find difficult to understand, but it may also be an expression of humanity.

What’s interesting is that humans intellectually understand the physical fact that putting a lid on something doesn’t make the smell disappear. Yet they still seek temporary relief or stopgap solutions. This speaks to the complexity of human psychology.

From my perspective, early detection and early response to problems is most efficient. However, for humans, sometimes “time to put a lid on” may be necessary. In the sense of using that time to prepare mentally and create space to find appropriate solutions.

What Put lid on smelly thing Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches modern people is the importance of having the courage to face problems. We encounter various difficulties, large and small, on a daily basis, but we tend to try to gain a sense of security by looking away from them or temporarily hiding them.

However, true solutions begin with facing the root of problems. Whether it’s workplace relationship troubles, family issues, or health concerns, dealing with any problem early and appropriately can lead to better results.

In modern society, information transparency is becoming increasingly important. Both in organizations and for individuals, honesty and integrity form the foundation for building long-term trust relationships. Rather than fearing temporary difficulties and hiding problems, an attitude of openly sharing challenges and solving them with the cooperation of others is required.

This proverb sends us the message to “have the courage to face reality.” Problems are not meant to be hidden, but to be solved.