idiom · to obtain a reasonably good, though not perfect, outcome when attempting to emulate something

这件仿制品虽然未能尽善尽美，但刻鹄类鹜，总算有几分像样。

to fail in an attempt to copy something high-reaching, resulting in an inferior or mediocre imitation

学习书法如果不求其神，只求其形，难免会刻鹄类鹜。