wash its face

wash its face
   not to incur a loss
   Coming clean, I suppose, or not needing help from another:
    He was forced to concede that, with some small adjustments, it managed to wash its face. (McCrum, 1991, describing a dubious venture)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • wash its face — (slang) (of an undertaking) to just pay its way • • • Main Entry: ↑wash …   Useful english dictionary

  • Wash — Wash, n. 1. The act of washing; an ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, a quantity, as of clothes, washed at once. [1913 Webster] 2. A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wash ball — Wash Wash, n. 1. The act of washing; an ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, a quantity, as of clothes, washed at once. [1913 Webster] 2. A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wash barrel — Wash Wash, n. 1. The act of washing; an ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, a quantity, as of clothes, washed at once. [1913 Webster] 2. A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wash bottle — Wash Wash, n. 1. The act of washing; an ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, a quantity, as of clothes, washed at once. [1913 Webster] 2. A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wash gilding — Wash Wash, n. 1. The act of washing; an ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, a quantity, as of clothes, washed at once. [1913 Webster] 2. A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wash leather — Wash Wash, n. 1. The act of washing; an ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, a quantity, as of clothes, washed at once. [1913 Webster] 2. A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wash — v. & n. v. 1 tr. cleanse (oneself or a part of oneself, clothes, etc.) with liquid, esp. water. 2 tr. (foll. by out, off, away, etc.) remove a stain or dirt in this way. 3 intr. wash oneself or esp. one s hands and face. 4 intr. wash clothes etc …   Useful english dictionary

  • wash — /wosh, wawsh/, v.t. 1. to apply water or some other liquid to (something or someone) for the purpose of cleansing; cleanse by dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing in water or some other liquid. 2. to remove (dirt, stains, paint, or any matter) by or as …   Universalium

  • wash — wash1 [ waʃ ] verb *** 1. ) transitive to clean something, usually with soap and water: I ve got to wash the dishes. a freshly washed shirt a ) intransitive or transitive to clean a part of your body, usually with soap and water: Wash your hands… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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