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know better

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know better (than to do something)

to be wise enough, experienced enough, or well trained enough not to have done something wrong. Mary should have known better than to accept a lift from a stranger. Children should know better than to play in the road.

See also: better, know

know better (than to do something)

1. to be wise enough to behave in a more responsible or acceptable way It was a stupid thing to do, and I thought she knew better. You know better than to interrupt when someone else is talking.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form not know any better: Doesn't she know any better than to wear jeans to a place like this?

2. to be wise enough to know that you should not believe someone or something The guy who was trying to sell us the car said it was in great condition, but I knew better.

See also: better, know

know better

Be able to recognize something as wrong or not possible, as in Mary should know better than to leave her child alone in the house, or Try to get in without a ticket? You know better than that. [c. 1700]

See also: better, know