1. Word finder
  2. Word definitions
  3. face-saving

Find the word definition

What is "face-saving"

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
face-saving
adjective
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ But the odds are that even those women who appear impermeable to pain are suffering great hurt behind their face-saving pose.
▪ Carter reluctantly accepted the face-saving maneuver, which was announced on April 21.
▪ Experts say the face-saving courtesy now extends to lower-level employees.
▪ He could have joined battle, lost, and opted for some face-saving rapprochement.
▪ Part of the new Governor's job will be to avoid a face-saving repetition.
▪ The party's most likely recourse is a face-saving compromise with the Ministry of Finance that does not alter the statusquo.
▪ Wright's face-saving equaliser came five minutes from time - after he had endured a nightmare display.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
face-saving

face-saving \face-saving\ adj. 1. allowing one to maintain one's dignity or prestige; designed to avoid admitting something embarrassing; as, a face-saving compromise; -- of actions.

Wiktionary
face-saving

a. (alternative spelling of facesaving English)

WordNet
face-saving

adj. maintaining dignity or prestige; "a face-saving compromise"

Usage examples of "face-saving".

Before Sir William could ask another question, Poncin in his most perfect, rehearsed Japanese--and to Tyrer's astonishment--began to offer the face-saving formula he had devised: "Honored Lord, on behalf of my Master, humbly suggest roju perhap consdir, ah please excuse, perhaps consider roju lend Satsuma first payment, one fifth.

He had offered the old man a face-saving means of acquiescence, and Chorl seized upon it at once.

In a face-saving move, Senator Botox has quietly dropped the part of his stump speech where he inveighs against Washington special interests: "We're coming, you're going, and don't let the door hit you on the way out.