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.

In that scene from “Grease,” Danny excitedly greets his summer sweetheart Sandy, before quickly playing it too cool and aloof, saving face for his T-Birds greaser squad.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2025

But it wasn’t just saving face that compelled Seattle to pay handsomely to keep Williams.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 11, 2024

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

He was only saving face with the family, she knew, but she felt she had somehow failed in his eyes.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French