Traduction :
to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom); fig. to back out of an awkward situation; to get out on finding out what it's really like
Référence :
原指作战要见机而行，不要做实际上无法办到的事。后泛指知道事情困难就后退。
Origine :
《左传·宣公十二年》：“见可而行，知难而退，军之善政也。”
Exemple :
尤其是因为在那一级里有三、四个“吵客”，弄得那位英文教员不得不～。（邹韬奋《经历·新饭碗问题》）
Annotation :
知难而退1
1. zhīnánértuì :
[EN] to sound out the difficulties and retreat to avoid defeat (idiom); fig. to back out of an awkward situation; to get out on finding out what it's really like
