save face

Idioms  

1. Avoid humiliation or embarrassment, preserve dignity, as in Rather than fire him outright, they let him save face by accepting his resignation. The phrase, which uses face in the sense of “outward appearances,” is modeled on the antonym lose face. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

The nation is in trouble, the people are divided, the government is trying to maneuver to save face and its team lost on the field.

From Washington Post

“Saying he’ll sign this bill if it comes to him is simply a last-ditch effort to save face on an issue that the vast majority of Mississippians support,” Simmons and Johnson said of the governor.

From Seattle Times

“The Democrats’ House majority is doomed and the smart members will retire to save face,” he says.

From Washington Times

However, as Wang's film shows, China was very concerned about having a negative image and created propaganda to save face.

From Salon

After all, what vaccine mandates would do is give Republicans a way to save face.

From Salon