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save the day

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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save the day (third-person singular simple present saves the day, present participle saving the day, simple past and past participle saved the day)

  1. (idiomatic, sometimes humorous) To rescue a person or situation from imminent danger or major failure.
    • 1881, Horatio Alger, chapter 25, in From Canal Boy to President or The Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield:
      [H]e acted as chief of staff to General Rosecranz, aiding his superior officer at a most critical point in the battle by advice which had an important influence in saving the day.
    • 1912, Arthur B. Reeve, chapter 6, in The Poisoned Pen:
      “It's Paddy,” cried Craig. “If he can bring them all out safely without the loss of a life he'll save the day yet.”
    • 1991 June 24, John Skow with et al., “Life In The Age Of Lyme”, in Time[1], archived from the original on 30 June 2011:
      An effective vaccine would save the day and last year researchers at Yale were reporting some progress.
    • 2008 May 28, Eugene Robinson, “The ravages of the Clinton campaign”, in San Francisco Chronicle[2], archived from the original on 30 June 2013:
      Maybe a strapping woodsman will come along and save the day.

Usage notes

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  • Often suggestive of a rescue executed in a valiant or heroic manner, and sometimes used ironically to indicate that the rescue was not particularly heroic or the situation not particularly dire.

Translations

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See also

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