Idiom:  know better

Meaning

Idiom:  know better (than to do something) / not know any better

  1. to know to behave in an appropriate way
  2. to know or understand the truth about something or know more than someone else about something


Example sentences

to know to behave in an appropriate way:

— I can’t believe that you took all of these office supplies from your office—you should know better!

— Don’t yell at him. He’s only five years old and he doesn’t know any better.

— You know better than to invite your friends over when we're not at the house.

— Now that you're 10 years old you know better than to draw on the walls.

— I knew better than to drink and drive but I was too lazy to call a cab. I really regret it, your Honor.

— He's beaten you five times! You know better than to go back to him again!


to know or understand the truth about something or know more than someone else about something:

— The cars sped ahead of me as we approached the airport but I knew better because I saw the police speed trap the day before.

— Our team thought my boss was at home sick but I knew better because my boyfriend saw her at the train station.

— My sister told me how upperclassmen target freshman girls just for conquests so I knew better when a few tried to invite me over to their frat house.

— Our old roommate tried to blame us for the broken lock on the door but our landlord knew better.


Synonyms

to know to behave in an appropriate way:

  • know right from wrong

to know or understand the truth about something:

  • be no stranger to something
  • have been around the block
  • have seen it all before
  • know perfectly well

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