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no better than one should be

 - 2 dictionary results

bet⋅ter

1  [bet-er]
Use no better than one should be in a Sentence
–adjective, compar. of good with best as superl.
1. of superior quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.
2. morally superior; more virtuous: They are no better than thieves.
3. of superior suitability, advisability, desirability, acceptableness, etc.; preferable: a better time for action.
4. larger; greater: the better part of a lifetime.
5. improved in health; healthier than before.
6. completely recovered in health.
–adverb, compar. of well with best as superl.
7. in a more appropriate or acceptable way or manner: to behave better.
8. to a greater degree; more completely or thoroughly: He knows the way better than we do. I probably know him better than anyone else.
9. more: I walked better than a mile to town.
–verb (used with object)
10. to increase the good qualities of; make better; improve: to better the lot of the suburban commuter.
11. to improve upon; surpass; exceed: We have bettered last year's production record.
12. Cards. to raise (a previous bid).
–noun
13. that which has greater excellence or is preferable or wiser: the better of two choices.
14. Usually, betters. those superior to one in wisdom, wealth, etc.
—Idioms
15. better off,
a. in better circumstances.
b. more fortunate; happier: Because of his asthma, he would be better off in a different climate.
16. better oneself, to improve one's social standing, financial position, or education: He is going to night school because he wants to better himself.
17. for the better, in a way that is an improvement: His health changed for the better.
18. get or have the better of,
a. to get an advantage over.
b. to prevail against.
19. go (someone) one better, to exceed the effort of; be superior to: The neighbors went us one better by buying two new cars.
20. had better, would be wiser or more well-advised to; ought to: We had better stay indoors today.
21. no better than one should be, Disparaging. morally inferior; immoral or amoral.
22. think better of,
a. to reconsider and decide more favorably or wisely regarding: I was tempted to make a sarcastic retort, but thought better of it.
b. to form a higher opinion of.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME bettre, OE bet(t)(e)ra; c. OHG bezziro (G besser), D beter, ON betr, Goth batiza, equiv. to bat- (c. OHG baz (adv.) better; akin to boot 2 ) + -iza comp. suffix; suggested relation to Skt bhadrá- “fortunate” is doubtful. See best

Synonyms:
10. amend; advance, promote; reform, correct, rectify. See improve.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

better 
O.E. betera (see best). Comparative adj. of good in the older Gmc. languages (cf. O.N. betr, Dan. bedre, Ger. besser, Goth. batiza). Superseded bet in the adv. sense by 1600. Better half "wife" is first attested 1580; to get the better of (someone) is from 1461.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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