be the best of a bad lot

be the best of a bad lot

To be slightly better or more desirable than anything or anyone else in a group, even though none of the available options are desirable. To be honest, none of the apartments we can afford looked very nice, but this place seems to be the best of a bad lot. I don't care for Mary's new college friends. She's still the best of a bad lot, but she's become a real troublemaker since meeting them.See also: bad, lot, of