saving face
Avoiding public embarrassment
Saving face is preserving one's dignity or reputation, especially after an embarrassing situation or defeat.
The phrase treats public image as something fragile that can be lost or protected: The compromise let both sides claim victory, saving face for everyone.
To save face is to avoid humiliation; to lose face is to suffer it.
Sensitivity in speech
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
civility · delicacy · sensitivity · considerateness · indirectness · white lies · euphemism · circumlocution
Self-conscious unease
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- public imagePerceived external persona
reputation · self-esteem · discomfiture · mortification · deflection · excuse-making · cover-up · damage control
Collective opinion of someone
- prestigeReputation commanding admiration
- statusOne's relative position
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- standingPosition, physical or social
esteem · respectability · good name · family honor · social capital · trustworthiness · integrity · legacy
Valuing one's own worth
- composureEmotional self-control
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- self-worthInternal sense of value
decorum · bearing · demeanor · aplomb · equanimity · stoicism · self-possession · graciousness
tact
Sensitivity in speech
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
courtesy · civility · delicacy · sensitivity · considerateness · indirectness · white lies · euphemism · circumlocution · mediation
embarrassment
Self-conscious unease
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- stigmaMark of dishonor
public image · reputation · self-esteem · discomfiture · mortification · deflection · excuse-making · cover-up · damage control · spin
reputation
Collective opinion of someone
- prestigeReputation commanding admiration
- statusOne's relative position
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
standing · esteem · respectability · good name · family honor · social capital · trustworthiness · integrity · legacy
self-respect
Valuing one's own worth
self-worth · decorum · bearing · demeanor · aplomb · equanimity · stoicism · self-possession · graciousness · nobility
- figurative actionsburning bridges, biting tongue, burying hatchet, cutting ties, jumping ship
- reputationreputation, reputable, bad reputation, repute, disreputable
- Impression managementself-presentation, first impression, body language, eye contact, dress code
- Asian valuesfilial piety, collectivism, group harmony, interdependence, respect for elders
- non-apologiesnon-apology, fauxpology, sorry not sorry, mistakes were made, sorry but
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
saving facelosing face
Social humiliation or shame
public humiliation · loss of face · disgrace · shame · embarrassment
saving faceadmitting fault
Accepting responsibility for wrongdoing
owning up · taking responsibility · coming clean · confessing · public apology
saving faceself-abasement
Deliberately diminishing oneself
submission · groveling · capitulation · backing down · abasement
save, saving, saved, saves, saver, savers, savable, face, faces