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
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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.
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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
Sharing is a fundamental part of any equal partnership, but sometimes temptation gets the better of us.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
But do restaurants actually save their least desirable tables for walk-in customers, or are our feelings getting the better of us?
—Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 2025
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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
Sharing is a fundamental part of any equal partnership, but sometimes temptation gets the better of us.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
But do restaurants actually save their least desirable tables for walk-in customers, or are our feelings getting the better of us?
—Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Apr. 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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