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

Last year, he was comfortably the better driver of the two; only rarely did Antonelli get the better of him.

From BBC ● May 3, 2026

Neil Lennon reckons John McGlynn should be "in the conversation" to become the next Celtic manager as the Dunfermline Athletic boss aims to get the better of his Falkirk counterpart in Saturday's Scottish Cup semi-final.

From BBC ● Apr. 17, 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

He felt too comfortable and peaceful to argue, and in any case he did not think he would get the better of an argument.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

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