reculer pour mieux sauter
/rəkuːˌleɪ pʊə mjəː səʊˈteɪ/ /rəˌkuːleɪ pɔː mjəː ˈsəʊteɪ/noun
Withdrawing in order to improve one's chances of subsequent progress or success; making use of a withdrawal or setback in such a way as to advance further.
Origin
Early 17th century; earliest use found in Dudley Carleton (1574–1632), diplomat and letter writer. From French reculer pour mieux sauter, lit. ‘to draw back in order to leap better’ from reculer + pour for, in order to + mieux better + sauter to leap.
- single-cut
- single-decker
- single digging
- singledom
- single-elimination
- single end
- single-ended
- single-entry
- Single European Act
- single European currency
- single file
- single-foot
- single-handed
- single-handedly
- single-hander
- single-lens reflex
- single malt
- single malt whisky
- single market
- single-minded
- single-mindedly
- single-mindedness
- singleness
- single nucleotide polymorphism
- single parent