the thing that is best, if you cannot have or do the thing you really want

I really wanted to work in television but I ended up in radio, which is the next best thing. 我本来希望到电视台工作，但结果退而求其次去了广播电台。

These sandals are the next best thing to walking around barefoot. 穿上拖鞋总比光脚走路要好。