To save appearances

Save Save, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Saved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Saving}.] [OE. saven, sauven, salven, OF. salver, sauver, F. sauver, L. salvare, fr. salvus saved, safe. See {Safe}, a.] 1. To make safe; to procure the safety of; to preserve from injury, destruction, or evil of any kind; to rescue from impending danger; as, to save a house from the flames. [1913 Webster]

God save all this fair company. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

He cried, saying, Lord, save me. --Matt. xiv. 30. [1913 Webster]

Thou hast . . . quitted all to save A world from utter loss. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. (Theol.) Specifically, to deliver from sin and its penalty; to rescue from a state of condemnation and spiritual death, and bring into a state of spiritual life. [1913 Webster]

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. --1 Tim. i. 15. [1913 Webster]

3. To keep from being spent or lost; to secure from waste or expenditure; to lay up; to reserve. [1913 Webster]

Now save a nation, and now save a groat. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

4. To rescue from something undesirable or hurtful; to prevent from doing something; to spare. [1913 Webster]

I'll save you That labor, sir. All's now done. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. To hinder from doing, suffering, or happening; to obviate the necessity of; to prevent; to spare. [1913 Webster]

Will you not speak to save a lady's blush? --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

6. To hold possession or use of; to escape loss of. [1913 Webster]

Just saving the tide, and putting in a stock of merit. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

{To save appearances}, to preserve a decent outside; to avoid exposure of a discreditable state of things. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To preserve; rescue; deliver; protect; spare; reserve; prevent. [1913 Webster]