ENGLISH
REFERENCE

had better

idiom
Meaning

Should; ought to; need to; must.


Origin

disputed origin

See better (adverb)

Examples
SIMPLE

You had better leave now to catch the bus.

CONTEXTUAL

The sky looks very dark, so we had better head home before it starts raining.

COMPLEX

If the company hopes to survive this economic downturn, the board of directors had better implement significant changes to their current business strategy immediately.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure

    Precaution and prevention of an undesirable thing is preferable to dealing with its potential consequences.

  2. 02

    better angels

    Morally upright or otherwise positive attributes of human character.

  3. 03

    better for it

    In a more favorable position on the whole due to something, despite possible drawbacks.

  4. 04

    better luck next time

    Used to wish somebody hope in future success after a failure.

  5. 05

    better nature

    the more amiable qualities of someone

  6. 06

    better place

    Heaven; happiness after death.

  7. 07

    better than sex

    Superlative; wonderful.

  8. 08

    build a better mousetrap

    To create a new product, method, or idea that is better than an existing version of something already common or widely used.

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