save face

idiom

: to avoid having other people lose respect for oneself
He tried to save face by working overtime.

Examples of save face in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The trailer for Do Not Open, from Novel Thoughts Production, hints at a family’s descent into chaos after their daughter downloads a popular app to save face with her friends, leading the family members’ relationship with their devices to take a terrifying turn. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024 There is another front on which Joker: Folie à Deux could save face, at least in terms of image and prestige: film awards. Paolo Armelli, WIRED, 7 Oct. 2024 Whereas lesser Housewives might try to hide their vulnerabilities from the camera to save face, Beador bares all. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 12 July 2024 Meanwhile, hungry for a better way to save face, Khrushchev came up with a new demand, linked to another of his goals. Timothy Naftali, Foreign Affairs, 16 Nov. 2022 See all Example Sentences for save face 

Dictionary Entries Near save face

Cite this Entry

“Save face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/save%20face. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on save face

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!