擦胭脂

cāyānzhi ㄘㄚ ㄧㄢ ˙ㄓ

    • to cover up mistakes or flaws
    • to make oneself or others look better

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Idiom惯用语 · Widely known

Literally
putting on rouge
Meaning
Originally women's make-up; now means covering up mistakes or flaws and making oneself or others look better. Mildly critical; like "putting lipstick on a pig".

Sources