Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

save the furniture

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.23 in modern English

Syllables: save the -fur-ni-ture
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

16

Letters

4

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To salvage something positive from a calamitous situation, especially one involving the reputation or fate of a political party.

Australian usage; Canadian usage; British usage

Example Sentences

"[S]winging progressives were keen to consolidate the diving Labor vote and save the furniture so that a reasonably-sized progressive opposition party could live to fight another day."
"A week after a headline in a Montreal newspaper suggested the NDP Leader’s numbers are so low it is time to “save the furniture,” he is still battling aggressively."
"In other words, the PLP could unite behind an experienced figure who would take them to a dignified defeat but would save the furniture."

Etymology

An allusion to rapidly removing as much furniture as possible from a building threatened by fire, flood, or a similar disaster. Compare French sauver les meubles.

Usage

Inflected Forms

saves the furniture (present, singular) saving the furniture (participle, present) saved the furniture (participle, past) saved the furniture (past)

Phrases

save the day

Frequently Paired Words

save the day

Questions

What does save the furniture mean?: To salvage something positive from a calamitous situation, especially one involving the reputation or fate of a political party.
Where does save the furniture come from?: An allusion to rapidly removing as much furniture as possible from a building threatened by fire, flood, or a similar disaster. Compare French sauver les meubles.

How to pronounce save the furniture

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