1
general::
Be embarrassed or humiliated, especially publicly. For example, Terry lost face when his assistant was promoted and became his boss. Both this expression and the underlying concept come from Asia; the term itself is a translation of the Chinese tiu lien and has been used in English since the late 1800s. Also see SAVE FACE.
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): lose face
Fig. to lose status; to become less respectable. • John is more afraid of losing face than losing money. • Things will go better if you can explain to him where he was wrong without making him lose face.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs