face-saving

Thân thiện

A diplomat proposed a face-saving compromise during the negotiations.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Maintaining dignity or prestige: An action, measure, or compromise designed to avoid humiliation or embarrassment, or to preserve one's reputation or self-respect in a difficult situation.

Usage

• The adjective "face-saving" is used to describe a solution, gesture, or statement that allows someone to avoid appearing foolish, weak, or defeated. It is often used in contexts involving diplomacy, negotiation, conflict, or personal pride.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The diplomat proposed a face-saving agreement that allowed both countries to claim a partial victory.
  • He was offered a face-saving way to resign, rather than being publicly fired.
  • It was a purely face-saving gesture, but it helped ease the tension in the room.

Advanced Usage

• "a face-saving measure/compromise/gesture": A common collocation describing the specific action taken to preserve dignity.
  • The last-minute change in policy was seen as a face-saving measure for the embattled minister.

Variants and Related Words

• Face (noun): In this context, "face" refers to one's reputation, dignity, or prestige, especially in social contexts.
• Save face (verb phrase): To avoid humiliation or loss of respect.
  • He apologized just enough to save face with his colleagues.

Synonyms

• Dignity-preserving: An action that maintains one's dignity.
• Honor-saving: An action that protects one's honor (more formal/archaic).

Related Idioms

• To save face: To avoid embarrassment or loss of respect.
  • The company changed its policy to save face after the public backlash.
• To lose face: To suffer a loss of respect or prestige; to be humiliated.
  • The CEO did not want to lose face by admitting the mistake publicly.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. maintaining dignity or prestige
   • a face-saving compromise