Get the better of you

Question

Your wife needs you. So don't you dare let the terrorists get the better of you.

- Does this sound perfectly natural for the context?

- Could 'let the terrorists get the better of you' easily mean 'let the terrorists kill you' here?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

anonymous- Does this sound perfectly natural for the context?

Not really.

"don't you dare" is threatening.
"don't let them get the better of you" is somewhat consoling.

The two don't go together so well.

anonymous- Could 'let the terrorists get the better of you' easily mean 'let the terrorists kill you' here?

I don't think so. Don't let them get the better of you is more like Don't let them outwit you, or even possibly Don't let them make you lose your temper.

From Merriam-Webster:

Definition of get the better of
: to defeat or trick (someone) by being clever
It would be hard to get the better of someone as experienced as she is.
—often used figuratively
She knew she shouldn't open the package, but her curiosity finally got the better of her and she opened it.

Examples found online:

Saddam has a track record of letting his temper get the better of him. 
His nerves got the better of him and he had a sort of mental breakdown.
It's not the first time that he's let booze get the better of him.

CJ

Get the better of you

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