better off
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- In a more fortunate or prosperous condition: Used to describe someone who is in a more advantageous, comfortable, or financially secure situation compared to a previous state or to others.
- Better or more desirable: Can also indicate that a particular state or course of action is preferable or more beneficial.
Usage
- The phrase "better off" is a comparative adjective phrase. It is typically used in the construction "be better off" or "would be better off."
- It is often followed by a conditional clause (e.g., "if...") or a gerund phrase (e.g., "doing something") to suggest a preferable alternative.
- It can stand alone to compare general states of being between people or situations.
Examples
- Adjective:
- After getting the new job, she is much better off financially.
- You'd be better off taking the train; the traffic is terrible.
- He is better off than his classmates because he started saving money early.
- They would have been better off if they had invested in property.
Advanced Usage
- "Better off without (someone/something)": In a more advantageous situation because a particular person or thing is absent.
- After leaving that stressful job, I feel better off without it.
- "Better off dead" (Idiomatic): A stark, often hyperbolic expression meaning one's situation is so terrible that non-existence would be preferable. Use with extreme caution due to its sensitive nature.
- In his deepest depression, he sometimes felt he'd be better off dead.
Variants and Related Words
- Well-off (adj): Prosperous, fairly rich. (A related, non-comparative state).
- They are a well-off family.
- Better (adj, adv): The comparative form of 'good' or 'well,' which is the root of this phrase.
Synonyms
- More advantaged: Being in a more favorable position.
- More prosperous: Having more financial success and security.
- In a better position: Being in a more desirable or beneficial situation.
Antonyms
- Worse off: In a less fortunate or prosperous condition.
- Since the factory closed, the whole town is worse off.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Be better off doing something": It is more advisable or beneficial to do a specific thing.
- You'd be better off apologizing now to avoid more trouble later.
- "Better off than (someone)": Used for direct comparison of fortune or prosperity between people.
- Even though he lost his job, he's still better off than many of his neighbors.
Adjective
- in a more fortunate or prosperous condition
- she would have been better off if she had stuck with teaching
- is better off than his classmate