退而求其次

tui4 er2 qiu2 qi2 ci4

to settle for second best, the next best thing

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退而求其次

tuì ér qiú qí cì

have to take (put up with; be content with) the second best; be left with nothing better than the second choice; have no alternative (option) but to give up one's (first) preference; seek what is less attractive than one's original objective

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退而求其次|退而求其次 [tuì ér qiú qí cì] ► to settle for second best ► the next best thing