Even granting that / to take a step back (退一步说)

Structure 退一步说 / 退一步讲，+ conceded unfavorable supposition

退一步说 (tuì yī bù shuō), literally "taking a step back, let's say", is a hypothetical concession that grants the WORST case only to argue that even then it isn't serious: 退一步说，就算失败了，也没什么损失 = "even in the worst case, were we to fail, not much would be lost". It disarms an objection by conceding all the ground and showing the outcome is still acceptable. 退一步讲 is identical, with 讲 instead of 说 (equally common). It usually leans on 就算/即便 inside the clause.

Examples

退tuì一yī步bù说shuō，就jiù算suàn失shī败bài了le，也yě没méi什shén么me损sǔn失shī。
Even granting the worst, if we failed there'd be little lost.
退tuì一yī步bù讲jiǎng，即jí便biàn方fāng案àn被bèi否fǒu决jué，我wǒ们men也yě还hái有yǒu别bié的de选xuǎn择zé。
Even granting that, if the plan were rejected we'd still have other options.
退tuì一yī步bù说shuō，这zhè笔bǐ投tóu资zī即jí使shǐ收shōu不bù回huí来lái，影yǐng响xiǎng也yě有yǒu限xiàn。
Even at worst, if this investment couldn't be recovered the impact would be limited.

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