face-saving
2
6.0
- adjective
- /ˈfeɪsˌseɪvɪŋ/
:
que salva la cara
- Since it was clear the United States would not agree to this, a face-saving solution had to be found.
- face-saving way
You have to leave yourself and others a face saving way out.
- You have to leave yourself and others a face saving way out.
- It's not a face saving lie, nor is it actually someone forgetting something.
Examples
-
A face-saving compromise was arranged under which Ochoa left the country temporarily, but García agreed to resign as defense minister after a decent interval.
Academic text (1991) -
China's objection may be only a face-saving mechanism.
Academic text (1990) -
You have to leave yourself and others a face saving way out.
-
And again, you want a face saving exit for people to say we love you, we want you in our life.
-
The Bush administration made it clear that Saddam Hussein was not even to be offered an opportunity for a face-saving way out of the confrontation.
Academic text (1991) -
China's approach to such an important issue in Sino-North Korean relations was gradual and face-saving for Pyongyang.
Academic text (1995) -
He had to back down and accept a face-saving compromise—"don’t ask, don’t tell"—which most analysts do not regard as a real change in policy.
Academic text (2007) -
In late February 1991, when the coalition brought Iraq to the brink of defeat, Gorbachev tried to broker an eight-point plan to give Saddam a face-saving way out.
Academic text (1991) -
But, given Peruvian willingness to try to find a peaceful settlement, the League was able to provide her with an easy, face-saving means of withdrawal and, in a further act of delicacy, did not formally notify Peru that the League troops were in fact Colombian.
Academic text (1995) -
After the negotiation fell through, they sought a face-saving solution to maintain their reputations.
Antonyms
- Offensive
148
4.2
A feeling of shame and loss of respect for yourself after being made to look foolish
How Dignifying
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Face-saving comes from the phrase save face, where face means public respect or 'dignity' and save means to keep or protect. So a face-saving decision or move is meant to avoid embarrassment and keep someone's reputation.