Usage of "get the better of"

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

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.

2

Hi,

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

Alan

3

What about the google results?

4

I’m afraid I’d disagree. Both ‘get the better of me’ and ‘get the best of me’ are in use.
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5

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 !

6

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On this side of the pond, yes.
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7

Thanks,
Just my curiosity,
As we say on this side of the pond, curiosity killed the cat :slight_smile:

8

We say that on this side of the pond, too, Alex. :lol:

BE and AmE are for the most part quite similar. Nevertheless, there are differences.
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9

Waht does “on this side of the pond” mean?

10

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. :smiley:
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