save face

/seɪv feɪs/

Other forms: saving face; saved face; saves face

When you avoid being humiliated, you save face. You can help your friend save face by pretending you didn't notice him awkwardly trip over his shoelaces.

Save face was first used in the late 19th century, based on the Chinese concept of face, a sense of both self-esteem and prestige, and the common fear of losing face. When someone saves face, they elude a situation that may cause others to lose respect for them. A boss can help an employee save face by only criticizing their work in private, rather than doing it in front of coworkers, where they might feel embarrassed.

Definitions of save face

1. verb

   avoid public embarrassment and maintain self-respect