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.
At this point, the Americans will more than likely be looking to save face. Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025 Rather than scrambling to save face, leaders should pause to plan accordingly. Duane Tursi, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 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 See All Example Sentences for save face

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Save face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/save%20face. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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!