get the better of

Idioms  

1. Also, get the best of;. Become superior to or master someone or something; win out. For example, John's common sense got the better of his pride, and he apologized, or Her older sister was always trying to get the best of her, or He was determined to have the better of his competitors. [c. 1600] Also see get the drop on.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

get the better of

"I was at that game and Pep did not get the better of Thomas Tuchel," said BBC Sport football expert Sutton.

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

But Rybakina broke back two games later as the unforced errors began to seep in for Sabalenka, who allowed her emotions to get the better of her in last year's Grand Slam final losses.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Swiss racer Tanguy Nef and Belgian Armand Marchant similarly failed to get the better of Strasser, leaving the top four to race.

From Barron's ● Jan. 25, 2026

But as we all witnessed on that Academy Awards stage, a superstar’s bruised disposition can get the better of them in the most public of forums.

From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2022

Now, as he felt weighed down by his failure to keep the Rad Lab above the turmoil of the Oppenheimer case, illness began to get the better of him.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• conquer
• crush
• extinguish
• humble
• overcome
• overpower
• quell
• repress
• restrain
• suppress
• tame
• temper