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3. lose face

lose face

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lose face

Fig. to lose status; to become less respectable. John is more afraid of losing face than losing money. Things will go better if you can explain to him where he was wrong without making him lose face.

See also: face, lose

lose face

to not maintain your reputation and the respect of others The sales manager lost face with his customers when he continually promised items he couldn't deliver.

Opposite of: save face

See also: face, lose

lose face

to do something which makes other people stop respecting you He refused to admit he made a mistake because he didn't want to lose face.

See also: face, lose

lose face

Be embarrassed or humiliated, especially publicly. For example, Terry lost face when his assistant was promoted and became his boss. Both this expression and the underlying concept come from Asia; the term itself is a translation of the Chinese tiu lien and has been used in English since the late 1800s. Also see save face.

See also: face, lose