save the furniture

present singular third person saves the furniture · participle present saving the furniture · participle past saved the furniture · past saved the furniture

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

   In other words, the PLP could unite behind an experienced figure who would take them to a dignified defeat but would save the furniture.

   2016 March 9, John McTernan, “Jeremy Corbyn's days are numbered if MPs stand firm”, in Telegraph, UK, retrieved 04 Dec 2016

   2 more examples

   [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.

   2013 October 4, Christopher Drew, “Why the Greens were the real election losers”, in ABC News, Australia, retrieved 04 Dec 2016

   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.

   2015 October 4, Gloria Galloway, “Mulcair touts NDP as only way for western Canadians to oust Tories”, in Globe and Mail, Canada, retrieved 04 Dec 2016