on their best behavior
idiom
: exhibiting proper behavior
The children were all on their best behavior at the museum.
Examples of on their best behavior in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No doubt kids will be on their best behavior in the days leading up to St. Nicholas Day after being threatened with something like that.
—
Sucheta Rawal, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2023
By that point, coaches gathered both units and implored them to keep it cordial, and for the second half of practice, both teams were on their best behavior.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023
While George and Charlotte were on their best behavior in the exclusive enclosure over the weekend, Wimbledon has had a tricky history regarding kids in the Royal Box.
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 18 July 2023
See His Cutest Faces at King Charles' Birthday Parade The Prince and Princess of Wales’ children seemed to be on their best behavior during the festive flypast, where the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team of the Royal Air Force soared overhead.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023
The Tribune cautioned that locals should be on their best behavior when the prince arrived on Sept. 21, 1860.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2023
Both of them are not on their best behavior with each other.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2023
See His Cutest Faces at King Charles' Birthday Parade The Prince and Princess of Wales’ children seemed to be on their best behavior during the festive flypast, where the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team of the Royal Air Force soared overhead.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023
This sense that everyone was on their best behavior.
—Michele Fazekas, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 June 2022
See More
Sucheta Rawal, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2023
By that point, coaches gathered both units and implored them to keep it cordial, and for the second half of practice, both teams were on their best behavior.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023
While George and Charlotte were on their best behavior in the exclusive enclosure over the weekend, Wimbledon has had a tricky history regarding kids in the Royal Box.
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 18 July 2023
See His Cutest Faces at King Charles' Birthday Parade The Prince and Princess of Wales’ children seemed to be on their best behavior during the festive flypast, where the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team of the Royal Air Force soared overhead.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023
The Tribune cautioned that locals should be on their best behavior when the prince arrived on Sept. 21, 1860.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2023
Both of them are not on their best behavior with each other.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2023
See His Cutest Faces at King Charles' Birthday Parade The Prince and Princess of Wales’ children seemed to be on their best behavior during the festive flypast, where the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team of the Royal Air Force soared overhead.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 20 June 2023
This sense that everyone was on their best behavior.
—Michele Fazekas, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 June 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on their best behavior.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near on their best behavior
Cite this Entry
“On their best behavior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20their%20best%20behavior. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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