better

the — the better

used to emphasize the importance or desirability of the quality or thing specified

越…越好

the sooner we're off the better.

我们越早离开越好。

better the devil you know than the devil you don't

(proverb)it's wiser to deal with an undesirable but familiar person or situation than to risk a change that might lead to a situation with worse difficulties or a person whose faults you have yet to discover

(谚)（待人处世）做生不如做熟；宁与熟悉的坏人打交道，不与不知其底细者相处

better off

in a more desirable or advantageous position, especially in financial terms

（尤指经济情况）比以前好，比以前宽裕

the proposals would make her about £40 a year better off.

这些建议可以使她每年比以前多得40英镑。

the better part of

almost all of; most of

几乎所有的；大部分

it is the better part of a mile.

这差不多有一英里。

better safe than sorry

(proverb)it's wiser to be cautious and careful than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret

(谚)谨言慎行不吃亏，轻率莽撞必后悔

better than

(N. Amer.)more than

(北美)多于，超过

he'd lived there for better than twenty years.

他已在那里住了20多年。

the better to —

so as to —— better

为了更好地…

he leaned closer the better to hear her.

他侧身向她挨近以便听得更清楚些。

for better or (for) worse

whether the outcome is good or bad

无论结果是好是坏

get the better of

(of a person) gain an advantage over or defeat (someone) by superior strength or ability

取得对（某人）的优势；占（某人）的上风；击败（或胜过）…

no one has ever got the better of her yet.

到目前为止还从未有人战胜过她。

go one better

narrowly surpass a previous effort or achievement

稍好，稍有提高

I want to go one better this time and score.

我这次想做得好一些，能够得分。

had better do something

would find it wiser to do something; ought to do something

最好做某事；应该做某事

you had better be careful.

你最好小心些。

have the better of

be more successful in (a contest)

在（比赛）中占上风

Attlee had the better of these exchanges.

阿特利在这些辩论中占了上风。

no (或 little) better than

just (or almost) the same as (something bad); merely

与…如一丘之貉，半斤对八两

viceroys who were often no better than bandits.

往往和盗匪无甚差别的总督大人们。

no better than one should (或 ought to) be

perceived as sexually promiscuous or of doubtful moral character

被认为有多个性伴侣的，乱交的；被认为道德品质有问题的