the next best thing

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the next best thing

Something that is as good a substitute as possible for that which is really desired or best suited. My walking shoes have a hole in them, so I've been using the next best thing—my hiking boots. I'm really craving some chocolate cake, but I guess this candy bar is the next best thing.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Kian (1)	-	Persian
Marlin	['ma:lin]
Levi	LEE-vie (English), LE:-vee (Dutch)	Hebrew, English, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Lykke	-	Danish
Romaeus	-	Late Roman
Magdalena	mahg-dah-LE-nah (Polish), mahk-dah-LE-nah (German), MAHG-dah-le-nah (Finnish), mag-da-LAY-na (English)	Polish, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Spanish, Occitan, Slovene, Czech, Bulgarian, Mace