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save face

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

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The details were a little complicated, perhaps by design to enable both sides to save face.

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This final is a chance to save face, to gain some kind of redemption.

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He complained the Army "spit me out," though he tries to save face by claiming "the feeling was mutual."

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Better to demonstrate prudence, he reasoned, than to rashly reverse a well-considered decision in hope of temporarily saving face.

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Years later she would admit she was trying to save face, telling Australian media she was actually dropped from the team.

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