What does “To save one’s bacon.” mean?

"To save one's bacon" means to rescue oneself from danger or trouble, or to avoid a difficult situation. It comes from the idea of saving one's bacon (or pork), which was a valuable commodity in many cultures and thus worth protecting.

What context can I use the in?

Example

He managed to save his bacon by quickly coming up with an excuse for being late.

Example

I had to work late to save my bacon and finish the project on time.

Example

She was able to save her bacon by finding an alternate route to avoid the traffic jam

Is “To save one’s bacon.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?

“To save one’s bacon.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.

How would I use “To save one’s bacon.” effectively in context?

You can use "To save one's bacon" to describe a situation where someone manages to save themselves from a difficult or dangerous situation. It emphasizes the idea of self-preservation and finding a way out of trouble. For example, if a friend narrowly avoids a car accident, you might say, 'He managed to swerve at the last moment and save his bacon.'

1Emergency
He managed to escape from the burning building just in time, to save one's bacon.
2Problem-solving
She quickly found a solution to the problem, to save one's bacon.
3Legal
The lawyer's clever tactics in court helped to save one's bacon and avoid a guilty verdict.

Similar phrases to “To save one’s bacon.”:

To come out unscathed

To emerge from a situation without any harm or damage

Example

Despite the dangerous situation, he managed to come out unscathed.

To dodge a bullet

To narrowly avoid a dangerous or harmful situation

Example

She dodged a bullet by canceling her flight, which later crashed.

To get out of hot water

To escape from a difficult or troublesome situation

Example

His quick thinking helped him get out of hot water with his boss.

To save one's skin

To save oneself from harm or danger

Example

The hiker's survival skills saved his skin when he got lost in the wilderness.

Good things to know:

Where does the phrase “To save one’s bacon.” come from?

The origin of the phrase "To save one's bacon" is unknown.

Is “To save one’s bacon.” common in everyday conversation?

Yes, "To save one's bacon" is a well-known proverb that is occasionally used in everyday conversation. While it may not be as common as other idioms, it is still recognizable and understood by native English speakers.

What tone does “To save one’s bacon.” have?

"To save one's bacon" conveys a tone of relief and triumph. It is often used to highlight a fortunate escape or successful resolution of a problem.

Can “To save one’s bacon.” be used in informal and formal settings?

The phrase "To save one's bacon" is informal and can be used in casual conversations with friends, family, and colleagues. However, it may not be suitable for more formal or professional settings.

Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?

It is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'She managed to find a backup plan and save her bacon.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'Phew, I managed to "save my bacon"!' to express relief.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

to escape unharmed
to avoid disaster
to find a way out
to rescue oneself
to salvage the situation

Antonyms

to be in a pickle
to be in hot water
to be in deep trouble
to face the consequences
to suffer the consequences