save someone's skin

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

save someone's skin (third-person singular simple present saves someone's skin, present participle saving someone's skin, simple past and past participle saved someone's skin)

1. (idiomatic, informal) To save someone's life.
2. To prevent an undesirable occurrence.
   • 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC‎^[1]:

     Centre-back Branislav Ivanovic then took a wild slash at the ball but his captain John Terry saved Chelsea's skin by hacking the ball clear for a corner with Kevin Davies set to strike from just six yards out.

Synonyms

• save someone's bacon