Verb
let the perfect be the enemy of the good (third-person singular simple present lets the perfect be the enemy of the good, present participle letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, simple past and past participle let the perfect be the enemy of the good) (conjugates through let)
(idiomatic) To insist on the total realization of a goal and reject any compromise, thereby decreasing the chance of achieving even a part of that goal.
Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Lower the bar. Actually spending ten minutes clearing off one shelf is better than fantasizing about spending a weekend cleaning out the basement. Gretchen Rubin