save
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save (one's) face
To try to regain favorable standing after something embarrassing has happened; to give or afford someone an opportunity to avoid embarrassment, humiliation, or shame. I tried to offer an explanation that incorporated elements of what he'd said as a means of saving his face after such an awkward presentation. There's no way for Audrey to save her face now that the entire company knows she embezzled money.
save (oneself)
To abstain from engaging in sexual intercourse or activity until one is married. I was worried he wouldn't want to keep seeing me once he found out I was saving myself, but he was incredibly understanding about it. Some people made fun of me for it, but I'm glad I saved myself for marriage.
See also: save
save face
To try to regain favorable standing after something embarrassing has happened. I was late to the meeting but tried to save face by blaming an urgent call. There's no way for Audrey to save face now that the entire company knows she embezzled money.
save for (someone or something)
1. To put money aside for some particular purpose or purchase in the future. We need to start saving for a new car. I've always made a point of saving for unforeseen emergencies.
2. To put something aside or keep something in reserve for someone or for a future use. A noun or pronoun is used between "save" and "for." I know you wanted to be here on Thanksgiving, so I saved some turkey and pumpkin pie for you. The coach seems to be saving his best players for the second half of the game.
3. With the exception of something. Save for one breakout success no one saw coming, the director's films have all been commercial failures. My entire department is just a bunch of idiots! Well, save for Janet—she's all right.
save up (for something)
To put aside money in small increments in order to accumulate savings (typically to be able to buy something). We'll have to save up if we want to take that vacation to Greece next summer. I've stopped eating out at restaurants so I can save up for a new car.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
save (up) (for something)
to accumulate money in order to buy something. I can't buy a car because I am saving up for college. I don't have the money now, but I am saving up.
Save
(one's) face Fig. to preserve one's good standing, pride, or high position (after a failure). The ambassador was more interested in saving his face than winning the argument. Most diplomats are concerned with saving face.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
- a penny saved is a penny earned
- a penny saved is a penny gained
- a prophet is not without honor save in his own country
- a stitch in time (saves nine)
- be saved by a hair('s breadth)
- can't (do something) to save (one's) life
- can't do something to save your life
- couldn't (do something) to save (one's) life
- God save the King/Queen
- in the nick of time
- penny saved is a penny earned
- penny saved is a penny earned, a
- prophet is not without honor save in his own country
- rainy day, a
- Save
- save (an amount of) (money) on (something)
- save (one) by the bell
- save (one's) bacon
- save (one's) blushes
- save (one's) breath
- save (one's) face
- save (one's) hide
- save (one's) neck
- save (one's) own bacon
- save (one's) own hide
- save (one's) own neck
- save (one's) own skin
- save (one's) skin
- save (one's) soul
- save (oneself)
- save (oneself) for marriage
- save (something) as (something else)
- save (something) for a rainy day
- save (something) for another time/day/week/etc.
- save a buck
- save a bundle
- save breath
- save down
- save face
- save face, to
- save for
- save for (someone or something)
- save for a rainy day
- save for a rainy day, to
- save from
- save from (someone or something)
- save it
- save it for the judge
- Save it!
- save money up
- save money up (for something)
- save on
- save one's bacon
- save one's breath
- save one's skin, to
- save oneself
- save room (for something)
- save shoe leather
- save skin
- save somebody's bacon
- save somebody's/your neck/skin/hide
- save someone's bacon
- save someone's face
- save someone's neck
- save someone's skin
- save the best for last
- save the day
- save the day/situation
- save the furniture
- save time
- save toward
- save toward (something)
- save up
- save up (for something)
- save versus (something)
- save your breath
- save your skin
- save, keep, etc. it for a rainy day
- save/spare somebody's blushes
- saved by a hair('s breadth)
- saved by the bell
- scrimp and save
- skimp and save
- spare someone's blushes
- stitch in time saves nine
- stitch in time saves nine, a
- stitch in time, a
- to save (one's) life
- to save life
- to save one's life
- to save your life
- you saved the day