Get The Better Of

Pronunciation: /ɡɛt ðə ˈbɛtər ʌv/

Definitions of get the better of

verb to defeat or overcome someone or something

Example Sentences

A1 The little boy always gets the better of his older sister in play fights.

A2 I need to learn how to control my emotions so they don't get the better of me.

B1 Despite her best efforts, the team captain let her nerves get the better of her during the final game.

B2 The experienced chess player knew how to get the better of his opponent by anticipating their moves.

C1 His competitive nature often leads him to get the better of his opponents in business negotiations.

C2 Through years of practice and dedication, she has learned how to get the better of any challenge that comes her way.

preposition used to indicate that someone or something is being defeated or outperformed

Example Sentences

A1 The clever fox managed to get the better of the sly rabbit in the race.

A2 Despite his efforts, the student couldn't get the better of the difficult math problem.

B1 After months of practice, she finally got the better of her fear of public speaking.

B2 The experienced chess player always knows how to get the better of his opponents.

C1 Through strategic planning and negotiation, the company was able to get the better of their competitors.

C2 Even in the face of adversity, she always finds a way to get the better of any situation.

Examples of get the better of in a Sentence

formal Despite his best efforts, the opponent's skill eventually got the better of him.

informal I thought I could beat him, but his skills got the better of me.

slang I was sure I could win, but he totally got the better of me.

figurative Sometimes our emotions can get the better of us in difficult situations.

Grammatical Forms of get the better of

• past tense: got the better of
• plural: get the better of
• comparative: gets the better of
• superlative: gets the best of
• present tense: gets the better of
• future tense: will get the better of
• perfect tense: has got the better of
• continuous tense: is getting the better of
• singular: gets the better of
• positive degree: gets the better of
• infinitive: to get the better of
• gerund: getting the better of
• participle: got the better of

Origin and Evolution of get the better of

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'get the better of' originated in Middle English.

Evolution of the word: Originally, the phrase meant to gain an advantage over someone or something. Over time, it has evolved to also mean to overcome or defeat someone or something in a competition or conflict.