Л-81

ФИГОВЫЙ ЛИСТОК (ЛИСТОЧЕК) //r NP;sing only fixed WO

sth. meant to conceal what is considered unacceptable, shameful, unflattering etc

fig leaf.

Яша... пришивал ко всем отчётам фиговые листки оценок (Грекова 2). То every report he (Yasha) pins a fig leaf of evaluations (2a).

From the Biblical account of how Adam and Eve made "aprons" from fig leaves to cover themselves after eating the forbidden fruit and realizing that they were naked (Gen. 3:7).