(of an action) convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral (行动)方便而又实际的;权宜之计的 either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so. 双方都可能违背该协议,若出于权宜之计办事的话。 ■(of an action) suitable or appropriate (行动)得当的;适宜的;合适的 holding a public enquiry into the scheme was not expedient. 就这一方案征求公众意见不合适。
noun
a means of attaining an end, especially one that is convenient but considered improper or immoral 应急的手段;权宜之计 the current policy is a political expedient. 目前的政策是政治上的权宜之计。
late Middle English: from Latin expedient- 'extricating, putting in order', from the verb expedire (see expedite). The original sense was neutral; the depreciatory sense, implying disregard of moral considerations, dates from the late 18th cent