Save bacon.
/seɪv ˈbeɪ.kən/
Save bacon.
/seɪv ˈbeɪ.kən/
To "save bacon" means to rescue oneself from a difficult or tight situation. The expression likely originates from the days when meat was a valuable commodity; preserving your bacon would be akin to saving something of significant value. Today, the phrase humorously addresses how one might narrowly avoid disaster or serious trouble, underscoring the importance of quick thinking and action in crisis management.
Winning that contract really helped to save our bacon this quarter.
Winning that contract really helped us avoid trouble this quarter.
Quick thinking by the team managed to save our bacon during the inspection.
Quick thinking by the team averted disaster during inspection.
Just when it seemed we would lose the game, Janet scored and saved our bacon!
Janet scored just in time, saving us from losing the game.