save someone's bacon

save someone's bacon
a) To save someones life.

...an anxious eye had been kept on the pinnace and the vessel she was chasing. "Shes up to her," cried Desmond, who was looking through his glass; "she struck without a blow, and there go our fellows tumbling on board. Little doubt, however, about her being a slaver, though, as they must have seen the way in which we got hold of this craft, they thought it as well to save their bacon, and make the best of a bad job."

b) to prevent an undesirable occurrence

...the tide being fortunately in our favour, we reached the Saint Vincent in good time, going up the accommodation ladder on the port side, which, as you know, is devoted to the use of the lower deck portion of the crew, just as Eight Bells struck. "Ha, my lads," cried the Jaunty, who stood by the entry-port, "youve just saved your bacon!"

Syn: save someones skin

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  • save someone's bacon — save (some)one s bacon, save one s face, save one s neck, save one s skin, save the mark see under ↑bacon, ↑face, ↑neck, ↑skin and ↑mark1 • • • Main Entry: ↑save * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • save someone's bacon — save (someone s) bacon mainly British, informal to save someone from failure or difficulties. You saved my bacon there. I d probably have lost my job if you hadn t been ready with an explanation …   New idioms dictionary

  • save someone's bacon — If something saves your bacon, it saves your life or rescues you from a desperate situation. People can also save your bacon …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • save someone's bacon/hide/neck/skin — informal : to save someone : to help someone get out of a dangerous or difficult situation You really saved my bacon by helping out yesterday. He doesn t care what happens to us. All he s worried about is saving his own skin/neck. [=saving… …   Useful english dictionary

  • save someone's bacon — ► save someone s skin (or neck or bacon) rescue someone from difficulty. Main Entry: ↑save …   English terms dictionary

  • save someone's bacon —    If something saves your bacon, it saves your life or rescues you from a desperate situation. People can also save your bacon.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Save someone's bacon —   If something saves your bacon, it saves your life or rescues you from a desperate situation. People can also save your bacon …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • Save one's bacon — save (someone) from a dangerous or awkward situation …   Dictionary of Australian slang

  • save one's bacon — Australian Slang save (someone) from a dangerous or awkward situation …   English dialects glossary

  • save someone's skin — save someone’s skin/neck/bacon/informal phrase to help someone or yourself to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially in a way that is not very brave You tried to use my name to save your neck. Thesaurus: to protect or defend… …   Useful english dictionary

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