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
Sure, Roma got the better of them in the derby, but that 1-0 defeat was the only loss Lazio suffered in the nine league games Tudor oversaw.
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James Horncastle, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
The lust for vengeance eventually gets the better of him, but Swenson leads us step by step to depravity through sorrow, injustice and humiliation.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Tozawa got the better of Los Americanos and actually won the crowd over.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Yet after the 39-34 Georgia loss, Smart acknowledged that Golding and Ole Miss got the better of him.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 2 Jan. 2026
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James Horncastle, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
The lust for vengeance eventually gets the better of him, but Swenson leads us step by step to depravity through sorrow, injustice and humiliation.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Tozawa got the better of Los Americanos and actually won the crowd over.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Yet after the 39-34 Georgia loss, Smart acknowledged that Golding and Ole Miss got the better of him.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 2 Jan. 2026
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 1 Mar. 2026.
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