room for maneuver; leeway
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
room for maneuver; leeway; margin
Refers to deliberately leaving oneself an out, avoiding absolute commitment or action to maintain flexibility for the future.
Huà话
bù不
yào要
shuō说
jué绝
，
děi得
gěi给
zì自
jǐ己
liú留
ge个
hòu后
bù步
。
Don't speak in absolute terms; you have to leave yourself some leeway.
Tā他
zuò做
shì事
zǒng总
shì是
liú留
zú足
hòu后
bù步
，
cóng从
bù不
bǎ把
zì自
jǐ己
bī逼
dào到
jué绝
jìng境
。
He always leaves enough room for maneuver when doing things, never painting himself into a corner.
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Tán谈
pàn判
shí时
，
cōng聪
míng明
de的
cè策
lüè略
shì是
bǎo保
liú留
yī一
dìng定
de的
hòu后
bù步
。
During negotiations, a smart tactic is to keep some margin for maneuver.
Zhè这
fèn份
hé合
tong同
lǐ里
yǒu有
hǎo好
jǐ几
tiáo条
hòu后
bù步
tiáo条
kuǎn款
。
There are several clauses in this contract that provide an out.