to lose face
11
6.6
- idiom
- /luːz feɪs/
- Informal
:
quedar en ridículo
- He didn't want to lose face in front of his colleagues after making a mistake during the presentation.
Not wanting to lose face by asking and being refused, she returned to her original arguments.
- Not wanting to lose face by asking and being refused, she returned to her original arguments.
Examples
-
To be comfortable, students need to feel they can express themselves freely and make mistakes without losing face.
Academic text (1991) -
The Americans were staying in Vietnam in order not to lose face, but they already had.
Fiction book (1990) -
If I cry, I lose face.
Fiction book (1996) -
But the whole concept of of losing face, say in China, Julian, right, to lose face, this is a very big deal.
-
In an effort to avoid losing face, clients may have simply pointed out all the positive aspects of the consultation.
Academic text (2009) -
Not wanting to lose face by asking and being refused, she returned to her original arguments.
-
One who "loses face" loses status and the "social credit" necessary to pursue instrumental interests.
Academic text (1999) -
To the extent their countries violate clear international legal obligations, they may lose face in front of their peers.
Academic text (1998) -
As Bunche pointed out, Za'im would lose face by meeting Israeli officials of a lower rank than himself.
Academic text (2016) -
"I really hope Americans lose face," said Wang Xiaoping, a factory worker in Guangzhou.
Academic text (2001)
How Embarrassed
- Informal
11
6.6
21
2.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to suffer a loss of respect' is directly derivable from combining 'lose' (to undergo a decrease) with 'face' understood here as 'prestige/respect', yielding 'lose prestige' or dignity. This metaphorical composition is common cross-linguistically and follows a simple, predictable logic, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings will generally understand the MWE.
Etymology
Lose face comes from the idea of 'face' meaning a person's respect and reputation. Imagine a mask or painted face falling off so everyone sees your shame, and you 'lose face' — that is, 'become embarrassed' or 'lose respect'.