Wiktionary
facesaving
a. That prevents loss of face and maintains one's dignity or prestige
Usage examples of "facesaving".
Hautbois’s statement—certainly meant as a facesaving out for Robin—had come true.
He had not realized all the undercurrents beneath the carefully contrived public image of Padrugoi, much less the m achinations of Ludmilla Barchenka, who had forced the capitulation of Centers, ruthlessly stripping them of kinetics in what was basically a facesaving operation.
Even when he was being defeated on a point, he managed to think of the audience and contrive a facesaving or witty line of retreat.
Ways would have to be found, pretty fabrications that skirted the far edge of the truth, facesaving explanations that the eight distinguished gentlemen could grab at and cling to.