save the day

save the day

To manage to produce a good result or make something successful when failure or misfortune seem imminent. Facing elimination from the playoffs, the team's star quarterback threw an incredible pass for a last-minute touchdown and saved the day. I thought we'd have to cancel the birthday party, but John saved the day by dressing up as a clown and entertaining Tommy and his friends.
See also: save
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

save the day

to produce a good result when a bad result was expected. The team was expected to lose, but Sally made three points and saved the day. Your excellent speech calmed the crowd and saved the day.
See also: save
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

save the day

Prevent a misfortune, as in They had forgotten the knife to cut the wedding cake, but Elizabeth arrived with one and saved the day .
See also: save
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

save the day

COMMON If someone or something saves the day in a situation which seems likely to fail, they manage to make it successful. Suddenly there were ten deer charging straight towards me, but the shooting practice drilled into me in the school training corps saved the day. After a disastrous first night for the show, it was Biggs who stepped in to save the day.
See also: save
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

save the day (or situation)

find or provide a solution to a difficulty or disaster.
1990 Richard Critchfield Among the British When the postwar social fabric started to tear, amid a stagnant economy and global decline…Edward Heath…was supposed to save the day. He failed to deliver.
See also: save
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

save the ˈday/situˈation

do something that changes probable failure into success: Jones saved the day for England with a last-minute goal.
See also: save, situation
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • save the day/situation
  • play with fire
  • play with fire, to
  • Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, the
  • be playing with fire
  • have a charmed existence
  • lead a charmed existence
  • lead a charmed life
  • live a charmed existence
  • live a charmed life
References in periodicals archive
I feel Hartson will save the day with a final penalty goal.
Irene sees City victory
The movie plot has been well guarded but we know this much Rich businessman Eric Knox is kidnapped from his billion-dollar company Knox Technologies Charlie puts the Angels hot on Knoxs trail, hoping they can rescue him and save Knox Technologies It's not long before the girls are busting out the martial arts moves, high-tech equipment and their beauty and smarts to save the day.
CHARLIE'S ANGELS WHICH ANGEL ARE YOU?
Luckily, they were more than happy to help out and save the day."
Theatre to the rescue
In a smash ending, Paul Hood, Mike Rogers and two members of the Op-Center team unite with the Chinese Prime Minister and save the day.
Tom Clancy's Op-Center #12: War of Eagles
Which number will save the day? Fun-filled music and vocals by Crystal Taliefero will have children singing about numbers long after those bumblebees have gone!
Weston Woods Studios
WALES rugby star Rupert Moon turned guide to save the day for a group of disabled kids stranded at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
WE'RE OVER THE MOON..; Guide Rupert saves kids' big day
The play tells the story of a genial extra-terrestrial who steps in to help save the day by making sure the Earth's celebrations for the trillennium go ahead.
It's out of this world
Pensioner Jean Weatheritt stepped in to save the day when a lorry broke down in a village centre.
Jam buster Jean
It's up to Grandma to save the day. Perhaps not durable enough for vigorous library lending, but certainly an excellent choice for parents.
Putnam Publishing Group
Fortunately, another clairvoyant had looked into the future and "seen" this - and arrived at the last minute to save the day. The evening raised pounds 520 for the Rainbow Sanctuary Association.
Dear Gerrie: FAR SIGHTED
Carol Owen, who has been helping the St Michael's Players with the play's Geordie accents, is stepping in to save the day. She will star as Peggy when the production opens for a four-night run on Wednesday at the United Reformed Church, Harefield Road, Coventry.
Show goes on despite accident
In between her job serving pizza in a rat costume at EZ-CHEEZ-E, minding her younger brothers for her pregnant mother, and evading detention and the school's nasty vice principal, who has it in for her, Ashley manages to save the day, with humor and flair.
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Prom
Twice he failed to pick out a team-mate and on the third occasion, when he had decided to go it alone, it took a perfectly timed tackle from Gheorghe Popescu to save the day.
Football: HAGI WRECKS GERS HOPES; Rangers 0 Galatasaray 0
Once again, intrepid British teenage spy Alex Rider (hero of Eagle Strike and other thrillers) must save the day. Alex is horrified when he learns that his father, who he never knew, might have worked as an assassin for a dangerous international criminal organization known as Scorpia.
Horowitz, Anthony. Scorpia
Weird happenings follow and it's up to Kyle, Cartman, Stan and Kenny to save the day. Meanwhile a desktop kit based on the show, which includes a PC Desktop Theme and Screensaver, is currently flying off the shelves.
MegaMirror: South Park video game