sauver les meubles

French

Etymology

Literally, “to save the furniture”. Cognate with Spanish salvar los muebles; compare also English save the furniture.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /so.ve le mœbl/

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

sauver les meubles

1. (figuratively, informal) to salvage what can be salvaged, to save as much as possible, to do damage control, to cut one's losses, to minimize one's losses

   Synonyms: limiter les dégâts, arrêter les frais

Descendants

• → Dutch: de meubels redden (calque)

See also

• sauver la face
• sauver les apparences
• sauver la mise
• faire la part du feu