| 释义 |
second best, second-best, a.
1. Next in quality to the first.
1439E.E. Wills (1882) 114 To Watkyn Asshwell my secunde best furre and gowne. 1616Shakes. Will in Knight Life (1843) 534 Item, I give unto my wife my second best bed, with the furniture. 1837Lockhart Scott I. iii. 95, I gather from Mr. Irving that these lines were considered as the second best set of those produced on the occasion. 1871Punch 19 Aug. 67/1 Inviting your second best acquaintances to your second dance or dinner.
2. absol. (quasi-n.) Something inferior to the best. † to have the second best: to get the worst of it (cf. 3).
1708Sir W. Robinson in 3rd Rep. Dep. Kpr. Irel. 37 Some people [are] of opinion that my lord is like to have but y⊇ second best. 1881Illustr. Lond. News 17 Jan. 65/2 Most people must be contented with second bests in this world.
3. quasi-adv. In phrase to come off second best, to be defeated in a contest (see come v. 61 f).
1777A. Adams in Fam. Lett. (1876) 319, I am glad to hear of fighting, even though we come off second-best. 1870M. Bridgman R. Lynne I. iv. 49 That lady was..coming off second-best in the encounter. |