save one's (own) `hide/`skin

save one's (own) `hide/`skin
(infml usu derog 口, 通常作貶義) escape harm, injury, punishment, loss, etc

save sb's skin/neck/bacon informal
to help someone to escape from an extremely difficult or dangerous situation
He lied in court to save his own skin.

A saving grace is a good quality or feature in a person or thing that prevents them from being completely bad or worthless.

The scintillating conversation was the saving grace of a bad and overpriced meal.

scin·til·lat·ing /ˈsɪntɪleɪtɪŋ/ adj
interesting, clever, and amusing
scintillating conversation
a scintillating performance