To take out into what you hope to be a safer contract. The term usually applies after the opponents have made a penalty double (or left in a take-out double for penalties).
![](https://bernardmageebridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-240.png)
West’s rescue into 1♥ suggests long hearts and short clubs, clearly in a hand too weak to bid the first time. West might hold:
![](https://bernardmageebridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image-241.png)