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
Recent Examples on the Web
Ethan eventually gets the better of him in the film's climactic battle, but Phelps still might be a character worth remembering.
—
EW.com, 21 May 2025
Probably not, but Paul has been getting the better of all the scraps between the two on WWE programming.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Frye, a former NBA center, shredded Allen for his lack of toughness, for failing to play through the rib injury last year and for letting Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam get the better of him physically again this year.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Real Madrid won’t tolerate being dominated for long however, and is already ringing the changes by reportedly appointing Xabi Alonso to get the better of Flick.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
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EW.com, 21 May 2025
Probably not, but Paul has been getting the better of all the scraps between the two on WWE programming.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Frye, a former NBA center, shredded Allen for his lack of toughness, for failing to play through the rib injury last year and for letting Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam get the better of him physically again this year.
—Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Real Madrid won’t tolerate being dominated for long however, and is already ringing the changes by reportedly appointing Xabi Alonso to get the better of Flick.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 May 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 10 Jun. 2025.
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