To pretend or put on a good front in order to preserve appearances; to cover up one's true situation.
上司の前ではいつも取り繕って話している。
He always puts on a good front when talking in front of his boss.
彼女は困っていても笑って取り繕った。
Even though she was troubled, she smiled to cover it up.
面接で取り繕っても本当のことはわかる。
Even if you try to put on a good front in an interview, the truth shows.
To gloss over or smooth over a mistake or fault; to palliate or patch things up with excuses.
彼は書類の誤りを取り繕おうと、急いで訂正印を押した。
He hurriedly stamped a correction to try to cover up the error in the documents.
ミスを取り繕っても、後で問題になることが多い。
Even if you smooth over a mistake, it often becomes a problem later.
上手に取り繕うつもりでも、同僚にはすぐにばれてしまった。
Although he intended to gloss it over skillfully, his colleagues saw through him immediately.
To mend or repair something; to patch up clothes or small damages.
袖のほつれを家で取り繕った。
I mended the frayed sleeve at home.
古いソファの破れを布で取り繕った。
I patched up the tear in the old sofa with some cloth.