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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Despite the Blues getting the better of the special teams battle, the Jets have made the biggest plays at the key times.
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Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
After getting the better of Seth, Punk turned his attention to Paul Heyman.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
In the official debut of everyone’s favorite Mexican mouse, Speedy Gonzales brings cheese to the poor mice while getting the better of cheese-factory guard Sylvester every time.
—Jeremy Fassler, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
These two teams have split the season series at one game apiece with Michigan getting the better of Purdue in the last meeting in a two-point 75-73 victory for the Wolverines.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
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Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
After getting the better of Seth, Punk turned his attention to Paul Heyman.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
In the official debut of everyone’s favorite Mexican mouse, Speedy Gonzales brings cheese to the poor mice while getting the better of cheese-factory guard Sylvester every time.
—Jeremy Fassler, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025
These two teams have split the season series at one game apiece with Michigan getting the better of Purdue in the last meeting in a two-point 75-73 victory for the Wolverines.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 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 11 May. 2025.
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