美中不足 (měi zhōng bù zú) — (idiom) a fly in the ointment; the one small flaw that mars an otherwise perfect thing
Definition
Literally 'beauty within, not enough' — a set phrase for the one small flaw in an otherwise excellent thing. Used to soften praise with a regret, as in the pattern 美中不足的是… ('the only downside is…').
idiom
a fly in the ointmentthe one small flaw that mars an otherwise perfect thing
Examples
- ，美中不足。Zhè ge fāng àn hěn wán měi, měi zhōng bù zú de shì yù suàn tài gāo le.This plan is perfect, except the budget is too high.
- ，美中不足。Tā de chéng jì hěn hǎo, měi zhōng bù zú de shì tǐ yù bù jí gé.His grades are great, but the one drawback is that he failed PE.
- ，美中不足。Zhè jiā cān tīng wèi dào yī liú, měi zhōng bù zú de shì fú wù tài dù chà.This restaurant has first-class food, but the service attitude is poor.
Appears in
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