退而求其次

to settle for second best / the next best thing

next in sequence / second / the second (day, time etc) / secondary / vice- / sub- / infra- / inferior quality / substandard / order / sequence / hypo- (chemistry) / classifier for enumerated events: time

and / as well as / and so / but (not) / yet (not) / (indicates causal relation) / (indicates change of state) / (indicates contrast)

to seek / to look for / to request / to demand / to beseech

his / her / its / their / that / such / it (refers to sth preceding it)

to retreat / to decline / to move back / to withdraw

to retreat; to withdraw / to reject; to return (sth) / to decline

next / secondly