"You had better take this". [Mid-1400s] Also see you'd better believe it. This is the British English definition of (had) better do something.View American English definition of (had) better do something.. Change your default dictionary to American English. It would be a good idea for you to listen to what he has to say. The expansion of the contracted sentence is thus You had better put your results in another place (btw, use in after put with place). I am one of the many who reject the use of better for had better; there are far more than "a couple" of us. Definition and synonyms of (had) better do something from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.. "You better take this" is a common colloquial form of "You'd better take this", i.e. Also, had best.Ought to, should. The black-and-white music video features the band and keyboardist John Bundrick playing the song onstage. It was the fourth clip played upon MTV's launch on August 1,1981 and was also the 54th visual to be aired on the fledgling music channel, making it the first video to be shown on MTV more than once. You use it when you're fighting with someone. Yes, there is a difference. (And I wouldn't trust a usage guide whose editors don't know how to … you'd definition: 1. short form of you had: 2. short form of you would: 3. short form of you had: . "Had better" is an idiom which functions as a modal auxiliary, meaning something like "should" or "need to". Here are some situations where you can use "you'd better ___": If you're a parent, you can use it when telling your children what to do. View in context 'Tis a maxim tremendous, but trite: And you'd best be unpacking the things that you need To rig yourselves out for the fight." For example, You had better finish this one before starting another, or We had best be going. 1) YOU'D BETTER = "You would be better off doing this' : this expression is a warning (sometimes implying a threat). They do mean the same, but only one is grammatically correct: you had better (or the contraction you'd better). Literally it means something like "It would be better if you took this", but it is not really analysable in modern English. Well, you'd better believe she returns the compliment. If we say it after someone says I'm sorry, we are showing that we are still hostile and ready to get angry (or fight in some cases). It would be good for me to go home. The full expression is= I HAD better ; the form is that of a past , yet, the meaning is in the present or future . It's used to give advice and orders , including to the person who's speaking! Actually I think it's more like a warning. You'd better be here on time tomorrow or else you are fired. Explanation of the English phrase "you'd better (do something)": Saying to someone "you'd better ___" is a very strong and direct way of telling them what to do. In the idiom you'd better VP, you'd represents you had, and not you would.You can also say you would, but not normally before better, which is the idiom.That's why they don't match. In informal English, we sometimes say I had best, used with the same meaning: I'd best go home. Learn more. You'd better be home at 11 or else you are grounded! You'd better discuss this issue with Bruno. You'd best listen to what he has to say. – John Lawler Jan 12 '14 at 19:03