The President, the aide said, is "trying to work out a graceful exit for the guy."

"His choice is to fight or make a graceful exit," a senior Western official said.

And he has not been one to back down, even when offered a "graceful exit."

A great guy would have made a graceful exit.

"So there was my opportunity for a graceful exit," he said.

"He's been talking up the idea of a graceful exit in August."

He asked, allowing her a graceful exit if she desired one.

And once the military has taken command of a crisis, a graceful exit is not always easy.

There seemed little point in staying, but a man could make a graceful exit.

So I know when to make a graceful exit, okay?