(informal) had better

to do as best one can given the circumstances

for want of something better, faute de mieux

(figuratively, in good part) to take a run-up so as to jump farther, to make a strategic retreat, to make a strategic withdrawal so as to come back stronger / (figuratively, in bad part) to delay the inevitable, to put off the evil day

to do as best one can, to do one's best, to do one's utmost, to give it one's best shot

two heads are better than one

better safe than sorry; a belt-and-braces/belt-and-suspenders approach always wins the day

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, better an egg today than a hen tomorrow

prevention is better than cure, better safe than sorry

better late than never