saving face

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

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

"It provides normal Republicans with an off-ramp to support Jordan, while also saving face. It is, after all, more honorable to be sweet-talked than to be intimidated," concluded Lewis.

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

“This lawsuit really feels like an exercise in saving face,” he said.