# do someone one better

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/do-someone-one-better
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To do more than somebody asked for or expected.

## Examples

- I asked for a coffee, but he did me one better and brought cake.
- My friend offered to help me move, but she did me one better by hiring a professional truck for the day.
- When the manager proposed a small bonus for the team, the director did her one better by offering everyone an extra week of paid vacation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.