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Glite Dictionary
to get the best of

to get the best of

32 4.6
To be overcome by something like tiredness, strong feelings, or problems
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : apoderarse de
  • Never let emotions get the best of you.
  • let get the best of
  • curiosity got the best of
  • emotions get the best of

Do not let friends, family, or guilt get the best of you.

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Examples

  • Still, you've got the best of him... at least for now.

    Imaginaerum (2012)

  • It's so easy to get the best of people when they care about each other.

    Mystery Men (1999)

  • Taught me how to fight... so that no one could get the best of me again.

    I'm Not Gay : A Musical (2023)

  • So I decided there was no way he would get the best of me.

    Blog text (19)

  • We let life get the best of us, and we get busy and we get distracted.

  • I'm not about to let her get the best of me, so I play along.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Can't let fear get the best of you.

    As I Am (2020)

  • Don't let it get the best of you, Bob.

    The Dalton Gang (2020)

  • I realize your insecurities will get the best of you.

    Jackass: The Movie (2002)

  • He was calm and focused, determined not to let his doubts get the best of him during the presentation.

Synonyms

to overcome
vsto get the best of
86 4.1

Be so affected by a strong feeling that you cannot control yourself

is about defeating someone often not due to their fault rather than emotional overwhelm
to best
vsto get the best of
23 4.2

To defeat someone in a contest or game

often implies winning that is not caused by the other's mistake or weakness
to get the better of
vsto get the best of
16 4.1

To take control of someone, something, or a feeling that you cannot stop

is often a defeat that happens without it being the other's fault
to get one up on
vsto get the best of
  • Informal
1 6.1

To have an advantage over someone in competition

often occurs because of external circumstances rather than direct competition
to have the best of
vsto get the best of
6.8

To be unable to control strong feelings or tiredness

is a defeat that often happens not due to the person's fault

Antonyms

to succumb to
69 5.8

Fail to resist a strong feeling or pressure and give in

defeated
2.0

Feeling sad and without hope after a loss

How Defeated

to overwhelm
42 4.0
to defeat
932 2.1
to get the best of
32 4.6
to outdo
22 3.8

Surface Forms

get the best of infinitive

Morphology

get + the + best + of

The phrase contains transparent elements — 'get' (obtain) + 'best' (advantage) + 'of' — so a learner could plausibly infer a sense of gaining an advantage over someone or something. However, the idiomatic uses (e.g. 'get the best of you' = be overcome or dominated by emotions) involve a role reversal or metaphorical extension that is not fully predictable from the parts, making the overall interpretation only partially derivable without exposure.

Etymology

The phrase get the best of may come from the picture of someone taking the best part or advantage in a fight or contest. If something 'gets the best of' you, it has the advantage and so 'defeats' or 'overcomes' you.