leave a way out; keep a back door open
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to leave a way out; to leave room for maneuver; to keep a back door open
Often used to describe a cautious strategy of ensuring an escape route or alternative plan. The variant form 留后路儿 (liú hòu lùr) is common in spoken Northern Chinese. Can carry a slightly negative connotation of being overly calculating or lacking commitment.
Zuò做
shì事
yào要
liú留
hòu后
lù路
，
bié别
bǎ把
huà话
shuō说
de得
tài太
jué绝
。
When doing things, leave a way out; don't speak in absolute terms.
Tā他
wéi为
rén人
jǐn谨
shèn慎
，
fán凡
shì事
zǒng总
yào要
gěi给
zì自
jǐ己
liú留
tiáo条
hòu后
lù路
。
He is cautious by nature and always leaves himself a way out in everything.
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Qiān签
hé合
tóng同
de的
shí时
hou候
，
nǐ你
děi得
gěi给
zì自
jǐ己
liú留
tiáo条
hòu后
lù路
，
wàn万
yī一
duì对
fāng方
wéi违
yuē约
ne呢
？
When signing a contract, you need to leave yourself a way out—what if the other party breaches the agreement?