Usage of "get the better of"

sitifan · Mon Jul 07, 2008 17:53 pm *Usage of "get the better of"*

Curiosity got the ____ of me; I had to find out what it was.
A. better B. good C.best
The correct answer is A. Is C also acceptable?

Thanks a lot for your reply.

Alan · Mon Jul 07, 2008 17:57 pm *get the better of*

Hi,

The correct answer is the idiom: Get the better of me. 'The best' isn't possible, I'm afraid.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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sitifan · Mon Jul 07, 2008 18:01 pm *get the better of*

What about the google results?

Yankee · Mon Jul 07, 2008 18:05 pm *get the better of*

lost_soul · Mon Jul 07, 2008 18:10 pm *get the better of*

Hi, Amy

So, if I say "my anger got the best of me" and "my anger got the better of me", they would mean the same thing?

Thanks !

Yankee · Mon Jul 07, 2008 18:44 pm *get the better of*

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On this side of the pond, yes.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

lost_soul · Mon Jul 07, 2008 19:02 pm *get the better of*

Yankee · Mon Jul 07, 2008 19:14 pm *get the better of*

sitifan · Mon Jul 07, 2008 20:23 pm *get the better of*

Yankee · Mon Jul 07, 2008 20:55 pm *get the better of*

Hi Sitifan

The word 'pond' in that expression refers whimsically to the Atlantic Ocean. The UK and North America are on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. So, when people talk about different 'sides of the pond' (in an ESL context), the reference is usually to the UK and North America. I'm from the US, so when I refer to "this side of the pond", I mean "here in the US".
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EDIT (to clear up any possible confusion):
As far as I know, Alex (lost_soul) does not actually live in the USA -- he lives in Russia. So, he lives on the European side of the pond. Very Happy

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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

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