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

See Examples For:

save face

Since huge numbers left as he was mid-speech at the opening celebration, this seems an unwise way to save face.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

"Both sides need to be able to claim victory and save face, whatever deal they agree on," a diplomat based in the Middle East told AFP on condition of anonymity.

From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026

To save face with her fellow pensioners, Mrs. Palfrey passes off a struggling writer she meets on the street as her grandson, only to draw confusingly close to him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025

Enough canceled flights could annoy members of Congress so much, on a personal level, that they get into a bipartisan dealmaking spirit that allows everyone to save face.

From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2025

There were only a few things that could help us save face, and that included keeping a nice house and looking our best.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi