face-saving
Definition
- 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.
Adjective
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maintaining dignity or prestige
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a face-saving compromise
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