save

1 /seIv/ verb

1 FROM HARM/DANGER (T) to make someone or something safe from danger, harm, or destruction: Thousands of lives have been saved by this drug. | save sb/sth from: He saved his friend from drowning. | The sudden fall in interest rates saved the company from bankruptcy.

2 MONEY IN A BANK also save up (I, T) to keep money so that you can use it later, especially when you gradually add more money over a period of time

(+ for): I'm saving up for a new car. | So far, I've saved about -500. —see also: saver

3 NOT WASTE (T) to use less money, time, energy etc so that you do not waste any: We'll save a lot of time if we go by car. | modern energy-saving devices | save sb sth: Reserving a seat in advance could save you $10.

4 TO USE LATER (T) to keep something so that you can use or enjoy it in the future: Let's save the rest of the cake for later. | He saved his strength for the end of the race.

5 COLLECT also save sth up (T) to keep all the objects of a particular kind that you can find, so that they can be used for a special purpose: She always saved foreign stamps for her grandson's album. | I'm saving up tokens for a free set of wine glasses.

6 HELP TO AVOID (T) to help someone by making it unnecessary for them to do something unpleasant or inconvenient: save sb sth: If you could lend me -5, it would save me a trip to the bank. | save sb doing sth: A brush with a long handle will save you having to bend down. | save sb the trouble/bother (of doing sth): I'll wash up and save you the trouble of doing it later.

7 KEEP FOR SB (T) to stop people from using something so that it is available for someone else: save sb sth: Will you save me a seat on the bus? | save sth for sb: We'll save some dinner for you if you're late.

8 save sb's life to prevent someone from dying: Surgeons operated in an attempt to save her life.

9 you saved my life spoken used to thank someone who has got you out of a difficult situation or solved a problem for you: Thanks again for the loan - you really saved my life.

10 save sb's skin/neck/bacon etc informal to make it possible for someone to escape from an extremely difficult or dangerous situation: He lied in court to save his skin.

11 save the day to make a situation end successfully when it seemed likely to end badly: Frank saved the day by offering to drive us all there.

12 save face to do something that will stop you looking stupid or feeling embarrassed

—see also: face­saving

13 saving grace the one good thing that makes someone or something acceptable: Beautiful photography was the saving grace of an otherwise awful film.

14 not be able to do sth to save your life informal to be completely unable to do something: He couldn't paint to save his life!

15 save your breath spoken used to tell someone that it is not worth saying anything, because nothing they say will make any difference to the situation

16 save sb from themselves to prevent someone from doing something that is likely to harm them in the end

17 SPORT (T) to stop the other side from getting a goal (2) in a sport such as football, hockey (2) etc

18 COMPUTER (I, T) to make a computer keep the work that you have done on it: Don't forget to save before you close the file.

19 RELIGION (I, T) in the Christian church, to free someone from the power of evil and sin: Jesus came to save sinners.

save on sth phrasal verb (T) to avoid wasting something by using as little as possible of it: We use a wood stove to save on electricity. 2 noun (C) an action by the goalkeeper in football, hockey etc that prevents the other team from getting a goal (2) 3 also saving preposition formal except for: She answered all the questions save one. (+that): I agree with you, save that you've got one or two details wrong.