get the better of

idiom

Synonyms of get the better of next

: to defeat or trick (someone) by being clever

It would be hard to get the better of someone as experienced as she is.

—often used figuratively

She knew she shouldn't open the package, but her curiosity finally got the better of her and she opened it.

Examples of get the better of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And Golding gives perhaps the best performance of his career so far as Nicolas, slowly unraveling as his grief and bubbling insecurity starts to get the better of him. —

Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2024 Rosario’s sweet tooth got the better of him at about 3:10 p.m. on Oct. 12, 2022, at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Broadway near Havemeyer St., according to court documents. —

John Annese, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2024 Keep your eyes wide open and refuse to let anyone get the better of you. —

Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2024 The moon’s clash with Pluto cautions you against letting emotions get the better of you. —

USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for get the better of

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'get the better of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Get the better of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20the%20better%20of. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.

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