get the better of

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“Curiosity got the better of me, so I opened the old box.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

breathe down someone's neck Neutral · CEFR B2

to monitor someone so closely that they feel pressured or uncomfortable

get a grip Informal · CEFR B2

regain composure and think calmly after becoming upset

get carried away Informal · CEFR B2

to become so excited or involved that you lose control

blow off steam Informal · CEFR B1

to release pent-up energy or emotion through some activity

cut loose Informal · CEFR B1

to abandon restraint and behave freely or wildly

drive someone up the wall Informal · CEFR B1

to make someone feel extremely annoyed or frustrated

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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