second best

Thân thiện

She earned the silver medal as second best in the competition.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The competitor who finishes in second place: This refers to the person, team, or entry that achieves the position immediately after the winner in a competition, race, or contest.
   • Something that is of inferior quality or preference: This refers to an option, choice, or outcome that is not the most desired or optimal, but is the next best available alternative.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She won the silver medal, but she was disappointed to be second best. (She was the runner-up in the competition.)
  • If the store is out of milk, I'll have to settle for second best and buy creamer instead. (Creamer is the next available, though less preferred, alternative.)

Advanced Usage

• "to come off second best": to be the loser in a fight, argument, or competition; to be defeated.
  • In the debate over the new policy, the opposition came off second best. (The opposition lost the argument.)
• "a/the second best": used to describe something that is the next most desirable option.
  • My first choice was unavailable, so I had to go with my second best. (I had to choose my next preferred option.)

Variants and Related Words

• Second-best (adjective): of the next highest quality or preference after the best.
  • He wore his second-best suit to the interview. (He wore the suit that was not his finest one.)
• Second-rate (adjective): of inferior quality; not very good. (Note: This is a stronger, more negative term than "second-best.")
  • The hotel was second-rate and uncomfortable. (The hotel was of poor quality.)

Synonyms

• Runner-up: the competitor who finishes in second place.
• Silver medalist: specifically, the person who wins second place and receives a silver medal.
• Next best: the most desirable alternative when the first choice is unavailable.
• Alternative: one of two or more available possibilities.

Related Phrases

• To play second fiddle: to be in a subordinate or less important position.
  • He tired of playing second fiddle to his more famous colleague. (He was tired of being in a less important role.)
• Second choice: an option selected when the first is not available.
  • You weren't my first choice for the job, but you were a strong second choice. (You were the next most suitable candidate.)

Idioms

• Second best is not good enough: an expression meaning that only being the best is acceptable; coming in second place is considered a failure.
  • For this highly competitive team, second best is not good enough. (The team's goal is only to win first place.)

Học thuật

Noun

1. the competitor who finishes second

Từ đồng nghĩa

• runner-up