blush (redirected from spared blushes)

at first blush (mainly American)

when you first start to think about something. His decision isn't as odd as it may seem at first blush.

See also: first

save/spare someone's blushes (British & Australian)

to do something to prevent someone feeling embarrassed. Granger saved the team's blushes by scoring the only goal in the last five minutes of the game. The audience's blushes were spared because the censors had removed all the explicit sex scenes from the film.

See also: save, spare

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at first blush

when first learning or thinking about something. At first blush, the house seemed perfect until we discovered we had no heat or hot water.

at first sight

at first glance

See also: first