reculer pour mieux sauter

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʁə.ky.le puʁ mjø so.te/

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

reculer pour mieux sauter

1. (figuratively, in good part) to take a run-up so as to jump farther, to make a strategic retreat, to make a strategic withdrawal so as to come back stronger
2. (figuratively, in bad part) to delay the inevitable, to put off the evil day

Usage notes

• Can carry either a positive or a negative connotation.

See also

• prendre son élan
• repli stratégique

Further reading

• “reculer pour mieux sauter”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “reculer pour mieux sauter”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.