Save face

Meaning

To preserve one's dignity or reputation after a mistake or an embarrassing event. It is about preventing others from seeing your failure or ensuring you do not look foolish.

Diplomatic, defensive

Used in a sentence

• I offered to let him resign so he could save face rather than being fired.
• He invented a silly excuse just to save face in front of his friends.
• The company announced a change in strategy to save face after the bad earnings report.