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However, the word "better" means a few more things in the English language than just being

used as an excuse. For instance, tennis fans should know what the word means in the headline, "Lu gets the better of poor Danai".

When you get the better of somebody in a contest or a game, you defeat your opponent; so the headline means that Lu defeated poor Danai.

When you lose concentration you are giving your competitor a chance to get the better of you.

The same expression when used to express feelings describes a different situation. When you

let your feelings get the better of you, you let them control you and tell you what to do even

though you know it is wrong.

Falling in love for the first time, the teenage girl let her desire to see her boyfriend get the better of her and skip classes.

But it is quite different when you know better because then you are wise enough not to do

something wrong.

Patrick could not believe his eyes when he saw John taking drugs; he thought John

should/ought to know better.

But after spending the whole afternoon talking to John about the effects of drugs, John thought better of it and decided that taking drugs was not a good idea.

Mathew's parents were relieved to know that he thought better of joining the army.

But before Matthew thought better of joining the army, he spent the better/best part of the

weekend thinking about it.

It was raining for the better part of the trip to Pattaya, and we could not do anything but play board games in the hotel room.

Complete the sentences with the expressions explained:

1. You should … going to a park alone after dark.

2. At the beginning, David planned to go to Burma for a holiday, but he … after hearing about the political turmoil there.

3. Tara practised intensively for the tournament but lacking the experience her opponent … her quite easily.

4. Some politicians let greed … them and take bribes.

5. Charlie was sick and spent … the day staying in bed.

Answers: 1. know better than; 2. thought better of it; 3. got the better of; 4. get the better of; 5. the better/best part of.

By Parnsap Yomanage