Settle for meaning in English
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Definition
to settle for: to accept, to agree to (although it is not exactly what you want)
If there aren't any restaurants open, then I'll settle for fast food. It's not my favourite food but I suppose I'll eat it if there's nothing else available.
Examples
- "or Las Vegas, but I'd settle for something a little closer to home if the budget won't budge."
Exercise 1
"I'd settle for something a little closer to home". = "I'd something a little closer to home".
"I'd settle for something a little closer to home". = "I'd accept something a little closer to home".
accept: "To settle for something" is an expression which indicates that someone will accept or consider something which is not necessarily their first choice. For example: I would prefer to eat Indian food tonight, but I'd settle for pizza'. The expression is synonymous with "I'd accept" or "I'd be willing". Here Philip uses the expression to express that although he would prefer to go to Los Angeles or Las Vegas, he accept going somewhere closer to home.
refuse: Philip's expression does not indicate that he would refuse to go somewhere closer to home, but rather that he would accept it, even though it is not his first choice.
arrange: Philip's expression does not indicate that he will arrange the weekend retreat himself, but rather that he would accept going someplace close to home (instead of Los Angeles or Las Vegas), even though it is not his first choice.
research: Philip's expression does not indicate that he will research a weekend retreat, but rather that he would accept going someplace close to home (instead of Los Angeles or Las Vegas), even though it is not his first choice.
Exercise 2
"I'd settle for something a little closer to home" = "I'd something a little closer to home".
"I'd settle for something a little closer to home" = "I'd accept something a little closer to home".
accept: "To settle for something" is an expression which indicates that someone will accept or consider something which is not necessarily their first choice. For example: "I would prefer to eat Indian food tonight, but I'd settle for pizza". The expression is synonymous with "I'd accept" or "I'd be willing". Here the author uses the expression to express that although they would prefer to go to Los Angeles or Las Vegas, they will accept going somewhere closer to home.
refuse: The author's expression does not indicate that they would refuse to go somewhere closer to home, but rather that they would accept it, even though it is not their first choice.
arrange: The author's expression does not indicate that they will arrange the weekend retreat on their own, but rather that they would accept going someplace close to home (instead of Los Angeles or Las Vegas), even though it is not their first choice.
research: The author's expression does not indicate that they will research a weekend retreat, but rather that they would accept going someplace close to home (instead of Los Angeles or Las Vegas), even though it is not their first choice.
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