Spare someone’s blushes

Meaning

The idiom "spare someone's blushes" means to protect someone from embarrassment or shame, especially by preventing them from being exposed to an unpleasant situation or information. It is a polite way of saying that you want to save someone from feeling uncomfortable or awkward.

Usage

• I was about to tell my colleague a harsh truth when I realized I should spare his blushes and sugarcoat it instead.
• When my friend accidentally spilled her drink in front of everyone, I quickly went to her aid and cleaned up the mess, sparing her blushes.
• My teacher always praised me for my excellent performance, sparing my blushes and boosting my confidence.
• I didn't want to make my coworker feel uncomfortable by asking too many questions about her personal life, so I decided to spare her blushes and stick to work-related topics.
• When my friend made a mistake during the presentation, I quickly intervened and saved the day, sparing his blushes from any further embarrassment.

Roots and History

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the Victorian era in England when modesty and propriety were highly valued. People would often "blush" at the sight of something they found embarrassing or shameful, so sparing someone's blushes meant preventing them from being exposed to such situations. Over time, the idiom has evolved to include a broader range of situations beyond just embarrassment, and it is now commonly used in contemporary language to protect someone from any kind of discomfort or awkwardness.

Synonyms in English

• Save face
• Put someone at ease
• Spare someone's feelings
• Keep a low profile
• Cover up

Synonyms in other languages

• Italian - "mettere a tacere" (to hush)
• Spanish - "silenciar" (to silence)
• French - "calmer la tempête" (to calm the storm)
• German - "beruhigen" (to soothe)
• Arabic - "أن تُحضرقَ بِهذا الفئة" (don't disturb this group)

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• stone’s throw

• spin a yarn

• sleep tight