lose face

verb

Etymology: Calque from Chinese 丟臉／丢脸 (diūliǎn) or 丟面子／丢面子 (diū miànzi), both literally “lose face”.

1. To lose the respect of others; to be humiliated or experience public disgrace.

   “"The Chengtu revolutionaries were fantastically colourful in the Szechwanese manner—they costumed themselves as heroes of the stage and their energies were chiefly occupied in tying ropes across the main streets so that when Imperial officials rode by in their litters they would have to get down and crawl under, losing face.”

   “Ahithophel, Absalom's chief counsel, hanged himself when he lost face after his advice was rejected.”