get the better of
idiom
: 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 figurativelyShe 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
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How to Watch Miami-OH RedHawks (25-8) and the No. 1 seed Akron Zips:
Date: Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Channel: ESPN2
Stream: FuboTV (watch for free)
Akron got the better of the RedHawks in the regular season with a 102-75 win in January.
—
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Yet De Zerbi, now at Marseille of the French top flight, never got the better of Guardiola in their four Premier League meetings, losing the other three.
—Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Nuggets got the better of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder in a rematch Monday at Paycom Center, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 140-127 statement win.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
In the dazzling matchup between the two greatest players of a generation, LeBron James got the better of Steph Curry.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2025
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Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Yet De Zerbi, now at Marseille of the French top flight, never got the better of Guardiola in their four Premier League meetings, losing the other three.
—Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Nuggets got the better of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder in a rematch Monday at Paycom Center, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 140-127 statement win.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
In the dazzling matchup between the two greatest players of a generation, LeBron James got the better of Steph Curry.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for get the better of
Cite this Entry
“Get the better of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20the%20better%20of. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
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