退而求其次

tuì ér qiú qí cì

Dictionary entry

to settle for second best

What does 退而求其次 mean?

退而求其次 (tuì ér qiú qí cì) has the following dictionary meaning.

1to settle for second best

2the next best thing

Character breakdown

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退tuìto retreat; to withdraw · to reject; to return (sth)而érand · as well as 求qiúto seek · to look for 其qíhis · her 次cìnext in sequence · second

Reviewed examples

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How to pronounce 退而求其次

退而求其次

tuì ér qiú qí cì

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Base dictionary data: CC-CEDICT · CC BY-SA 4.0.