saving face

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Better to demonstrate prudence, he reasoned, than to rashly reverse a well-considered decision in hope of temporarily saving face.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2024

Cooke leaders proved to be bad actors at every turn, more concerned with saving face than taking accountability.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 22, 2023

It is possible that Mr Musk is buying himself some time and saving face, ahead of a court case that many predicted he was unlikely to win.

From BBC • Oct. 5, 2022

In the end, Abe was cast as having made the postponement proposal, thus saving face.

From Washington Times • Mar. 27, 2020

There was left to him only the possibility of saving face and Mack was likely to be very generous about that.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck