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
Observers have voiced concerns that Chinese forces could escalate tensions by taking more aggressive action to save face, putting it on a possible collision course with the United States over its decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines.
—
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Our girl figures out a way to strengthen the clan and help both of her brothers save face.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025
Once again giving the U.S. league a big lift, the Argentine enabled MLS to save face in the Club World Cup by leading Miami to a victory and two ties, where the other two MLS clubs went winless with one tie in their six matches combined.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2025
To be successful, negotiations to end the war will have to let Putin save face in what has been a deadlier war for Russia on balance (though the level of Ukraine’s destruction is second only to Gaza’s among recent wars).
—Samuel Moyn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
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Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Our girl figures out a way to strengthen the clan and help both of her brothers save face.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025
Once again giving the U.S. league a big lift, the Argentine enabled MLS to save face in the Club World Cup by leading Miami to a victory and two ties, where the other two MLS clubs went winless with one tie in their six matches combined.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2025
To be successful, negotiations to end the war will have to let Putin save face in what has been a deadlier war for Russia on balance (though the level of Ukraine’s destruction is second only to Gaza’s among recent wars).
—Samuel Moyn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for save face
Cite this Entry
“Save face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/save%20face. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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