# lose face

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/lose-face
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To lose the respect of others; to be humiliated or experience public disgrace.

## Examples

- He did not want to lose face in front of his friends.
- The politician tried to hide his mistake to avoid losing face during the public debate.
- By admitting his failure so publicly, the manager risked losing face among his colleagues and damaging his professional reputation permanently.

## Origin

Calque from Chinese 丟臉／丢脸 (diūliǎn) or 丟面子／丢面子 (diū miànzi), both literally “lose face”.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.