Synonyms for save face

Grammar : Verb

Spell : feys

Phonetic Transcription : feɪs

preserve one's honor

Définition of save face

Origin : late 13c., "front of the head," from Old French face (12c.) "face, countenance, look, appearance," from Vulgar Latin *facia (cf. Italian faccia), from Latin facies "appearance, form, figure," and secondarily "visage, countenance;" probably related to facere "to make" (see factitious).
Replaced Old English andwlita (from root of wlitan "to see, look") and ansyn, the usual word (from the root of seon "see"). In French, the use of face for "front of the head" was given up 17c. and replaced by visage (older vis), from Latin visus "sight." To lose face (or save face), 1876, is said to be from Chinese tu lien. Face value was originally (1878) of bank notes, postage stamps, etc.

verb preserve one's dignity

Example sentences :

But once the matter is brought to their “official attention,” they have to take action in order to “save face.”
Extract from : « Ifugao Law » by R. F. Burton

Just as the Chinese will do anything to "save face" so the Briton will do anything not to "lose face."
Extract from : « The Pacific Triangle » by Sydney Greenbie

Her skipper offered me a tow, but I was anxious to save face as much as possible by returning on my own, and so declined.
Extract from : « Sea-Hounds » by Lewis R. Freeman

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019