Get the worst of me meaning

Most of the confusion that writers face in English has to do with homophones: words that sound alike when spoken but have different meanings and spellings.

Today, however, we are dealing with a different concept: comparative and superlative adjectives. If you’re not sure what these terms mean, don’t worry. I’ll explain everything in detail below.

What is the Difference Between Worse and Worst?

In this post, I want to talk about worse vs. worst. I will use both words in example sentences and outline exactly when to use each word.

After reading this post, you won’t ever again second-guess yourself by saying, “Should I use worse or worst?”

When to Use Worse

What does worse mean? Worse is defined as of lower quality or a lower standard.

Worse is what is known as a comparative adjective. A comparative adjective is used to compare two things with each other. For example,

• The food was worse than the service.
• These headphones are worse than my old ones.
• He will look to exploit a Giants secondary that figures to be even worse than it was last season. –New York Times
• The strain looks to be a little bit worse than initially diagnosed. –Oakland Press

When to Use Worst

What does worst mean? Worst is defined as of the lowest quality or the lowest standard.

Worst is what is known as a superlative adjective. A superlative adjective is used when you compare three or more things with one another. For example,

• Out of Steve, Bill, and Joe, Steve has the worst score.
• This was the worst speech the president has ever made.
• An index of REIT stocks is on track for its worst year since 2008 after a six-year rally pushed it up 348%, including dividends, from its financial-crisis-era low, as of Friday’s close. –The Wall Street Journal
• Under Will Muschamp, the Gators only had one 1,000-yard rusher (Mike Gillislee in 2012) and the running backs struggled in an offense that ranked among the worst in the country. –Orlando Sentinel

Superlative adjectives can be thought of as the most extreme descriptors. They are super!

Ordering of Worse, Worst

Most comparatives/superlatives look something like this, Large > Larger > Largest. Simply adding an “er” makes the comparative, and adding the “est” makes the superlative.

Worse and worst are irregular, however, so their ordering goes like this, Bad > Worse > Worst.

Then on the opposite end of the spectrum you have, Good > Better > Best (also irregular).

Worse Case or Worst Case?

How exactly does the popular phrase go? Is it a worse case scenario or a worst-case scenario?

The correct usage would be worst-case scenario. A worst-case scenario is characterized by the worst of the possible foreseeable circumstances. It is the most extreme scenario.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Here’s a good trick to remember when to use worst or worse.

Worst is the least good option. If you are presented with a list of things to do, whatever is worst is the thing you would want to do least. Worst and least both end in “st.”

You could also think of it as being the most extreme (in the case of a storm or natural disaster). Worst and most both end in “st.”

Summary

Worst vs. worse are an example of irregular comparative and superlative adjectives.

Worse describes something that is of lower quality than something else. It is used to compare two things with each other.

To be clear, "I got the worst of him" does not mean "he defeated me." It simply means "I received his worst part or attribute" -- an expression that normally wouldn't make much sense, but in this case is easily understandable because it mirrors the wording of the previous phrase and because we all know what the worst attribute of a skunk is.

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthink the best/worst of somebodythink the best/worst of somebodyAPPROVEto consider someone’s behaviour in a way that makes them seem as good as possible or as bad as possible  He’s determined to think the worst of me. → thinkExamples from the Corpusthink the best/worst of somebody• The prospect of Guy leaving, thinking the worst of her, was unbearable.• I was so ready to think the worst of him, she wailed inwardly.• Why should you think the worst of me?• You always think the worst of me.• He thought the worst of Mitch and clearly thought that left to herself she would ring London at once.• Ellie's the type of person that always thinks the best of people.• My immediate reaction, whether it be a man or a woman, is to think the worst of them.

What are these?

What does it mean to get the worst of someone?

What does the worst of the worst mean?

What do you call someone who thinks the worst of people?

What does I the worst of all mean?