get the best of

phrase

: to overcome or outdo (someone or something) : to get the better of

The hero got the best of the villain in the end.

I let my emotions get the best of me and said something I regret.

Let's face it: As much as we like to eat healthy, the old sweet tooth sometimes gets the best of us.

—Denise I. O'Neal

Examples of get the best of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the sentencing, prosecutors said the shooting occurred during an unprovoked attack after Gerardi reportedly let his rage get the best of him. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Jones’ plea to anyone in town this weekend is to act responsibly and not let emotions get the best of them. — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Two of the Southland’s five unbeaten teams went down as Homewood-Flossmoor coach Troy McAllister got the best of his former team, Sandburg, in a dominant 35-13 victory. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

But curiosity — and possibly a lack of email storage — ultimately got the best of him. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for get the best of

• hereinabove
• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove