备而不用[bèi ér bú yòng]
have sth. ready just in case; be better to get ready for nothing than caught unprepared; have a thing but not to use it for the time being; Keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for it.; keep sth. for possible future use; put aside for possible
1. 我抓住的那根杆子是一根备而不用的桅杆，我发现我已经和那条船相隔了那么远，不禁很惊骇。
It was the spare yard I had got hold of, and I was amazed to see how far I had traveled from brig
2. 我抓住的那根杆子是一根备而不用的桅杆，我发现我已经和那条船相隔了那么远，不禁很惊骇。
It was the spare yard I had got hold of, and I was amazed to see how far I had travelled from brig.