A bad bush is better than the open field.

Even poor cover offers some shelter. The proverb favors an imperfect protection over a situation that leaves someone entirely exposed.

It does not suggest that the shelter is good. Its point is that a choice can be worth taking because the available alternative is worse.

Use this proverb when weighing a flawed but protective option against having no protection. It acknowledges the option’s shortcomings while urging attention to what it still offers.