know better

Idioms  

1. Be able to recognize something as wrong or not possible, as in Mary should know better than to leave her child alone in the house, or Try to get in without a ticket? You know better than that. [c. 1700]

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Example Sentences

In Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically urgent thriller “One Battle After Another” — costumed by four-time Oscar winner Colleen Atwood — members of the French 75 revolutionary group know better than to draw attention to themselves.

From Los Angeles Times

“They were cavalier and they were naughty and they were learning. They got to an age where it was time for them to know better.”

From Los Angeles Times

Hawkins’ beloved band of nerds know better.

From Los Angeles Times

When he pointed to the wrong place, he alleges a detective replied: "Come on Peter, you know better than that," before hinting at the "correct" location.

From BBC

“Say,” the monster said, “if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were those three horrible Russian children I once met in Brighton! But that’s not possible, is it? I must be dreaming. Or maybe I got some cinders in my eye while I was up there in the chimney—hold on a minute. . . .”

From Literature