best them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "best them" is not standard or commonly used in written English. It may be used in informal contexts, but clarity is often lacking. Example: "I want to best them in the competition." Alternative expressions include "outperform them," "surpass them," or "defeat them."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

When he tired of his competition, he hatched a jaw-dropping ploy to best them.

The New York Times

Soon, he would thrust back across the Delaware and catch the enemy resting at Trenton, and then, with still more audacity, best them again at Princeton.

The New Yorker

Hope for enlightenment was dashed though, as Ham trotted out the same old zombie canards, and Nye did his futile best to best them.

The Guardian

And, despite being bigger and wiser, you won't be able to best them in a physical fight on account of being so out of shape and beaten down by age.

The New Yorker

Where many male poets have an uneasy relationship with their poetic forebears, attempting to best them in a kind of literary one-upmanship, McMillan falls asleep with his hero Thom Gunn on his bed, "night after night / open at the spine".

The Guardian - Books

And then, when you have that nemesis, you do what Sideshow Bob does to Bart: you best them, fighting to your last in the constant struggle of man v man, of nemesis v nemesis, of me v John from my English class.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Honora Wapshot treats them best, giving them hot buttered rum.

The New Yorker

The I.A.T., to everyone's surprise, bested them both.

The New York Times - Magazine

And now Google's Pixel 2 has bested them both.

TechCrunch

I like them both, and want the best for them.

The New Yorker

How will you best accomplish them?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clearly implies a contest or struggle, as the verb form of 'best' specifically refers to gaining the upper hand.

Common error

Do not mistake the competitive verb "best them" (to defeat) with the prepositional phrase 'best for them' (beneficial). For example, 'It is best for them' means it is helpful, whereas 'to best them' means to win against them.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "best them" primarily functions as a transitive verb phrase where 'best' acts as the action and 'them' acts as the direct object. According to Ludwig, it is used to describe the act of winning a contest or showing superiority. A secondary, rarer function seen in the examples is a noun phrase usage in motivational contexts, such as 'becoming the best them they can be'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Social Media

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "best them" is a robust and versatile expression frequently used by elite writers to denote victory or superiority. While some automated tools might label it as informal or non-standard, Ludwig AI's corpus data reveals that it is a favorite among journalists at The New York Times and The New Yorker for its punchy, idiomatic feel. It most commonly functions as a verb meaning to "outperform them", but it can also appear in motivational contexts regarding self-improvement. Writers should use it confidently in narrative or competitive contexts while opting for "surpass them" or "defeat them" in strictly formal academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outperform them

More formal and suitable for professional or academic contexts.

defeat them

A direct and common alternative describing victory.

beat them

More common and slightly more informal.

surpass them

Focuses on exceeding the quality or achievement of the subjects.

overcome them

Implies a struggle or an obstacle was involved in winning.

get the better of them

An idiomatic expression synonymous with defeating someone.

outwit them

Specifically implies winning through superior intelligence or strategy.

outshine them

A metaphorical alternative suggesting better performance.

prevail over them

A more formal and grand way to describe winning.

vanquish them

A literary or archaic alternative meaning to defeat thoroughly.

FAQs

What does it mean to "best them"?

In most contexts, to "best them" means to defeat or "outperform them" in a competition, argument, or fight. It is a more literary or idiomatic way of saying to "beat them".

Is "best them" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. While Ludwig AI sometimes flags it as non-standard, it is a well-established usage of 'best' as a verb, frequently appearing in top-tier sources like The New Yorker and The Guardian.

What can I say instead of "best them"?

You can use standard alternatives such like "defeat them", "surpass them", or "get the better of them" depending on the formality of your writing.

Is "best them" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. While it is not typically used in strictly technical scientific papers, it is highly common in quality journalism and creative writing.