Looking for idiom/expression to describe an instance where one makes something seem better than it really is


Maybe the example would help to describe the expression I am looking for:


Say - a sub-par school or organization makes a promotional video, whereby they make the school look way better than it really is. They accomplished this by interviewing a few successful students, showing only the best parts of the school/classes, picking a few angles, and omitting 80% of what really represents the true situation.


I have heard the following expression, but not sure whether it's appropriate, or even phrased correctly:



Turn chicken into a chicken soup.



EDIT: actually the expression was



Make chicken salad out of chicken $#!%"



coined by Brock Lesnar. Obviously it's less befitting than others mentioned on the thread.



Answer



The one I like best is polishing a turd.


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