save the furniture
To salvage something positive from a calamitous situation, especially one involving the reputation or fate of a political party.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The team tried to save the furniture after the bad news.”
“The manager fires the coach to save the furniture after a long losing streak.”
“After the scandal broke, the party leader worked hard to save the furniture before the next election.”
“When the merger failed, the CEO resigned immediately to save the furniture and protect the company's remaining stock value.”
“The government is offering tax cuts now because they are desperate to save the furniture before the voters head to the polls.”
“Despite the catastrophic loss of public support, the campaign manager scrambled to save the furniture by distancing the candidate from the failed policy.”
The phrase originates as an allusion to the rapid removal of household items from a building threatened by fire, flood, or a similar disaster. It shares a common conceptual root with the French expression *sauver les meubles*, identifying the immediate preservation of movable assets when the structure itself is considered a lost cause.
- 01
move furniture
To engage someone physically; to brawl.
- 02
save by the bell
To rescue or favorably assist (someone) by means of a timely interruption or the sudden termination of difficult circumstances.
- 03
save face
To take an action or make a gesture intended to preserve one's reputation or honour.
- 04
save for a rainy day
To keep some money back for possible expensive problems in the future.
- 05
save it
Do not bother with the explanation that you are about to give; be quiet.
- 06
save one's breath
To refrain from speech; to be quiet, especially where it would have no useful effect to speak.
- 07
save one's strength
To avoid waste one's energy or efforts.
- 08
save someone's face
to preserve someone's pride, especially as defined by customary social settings.
Last updated August 10, 2026