'To save appearances' definitions:

Definition of 'To save appearances'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]