Green’s Dictionary of Slang

best (of it) n.

an advantage.

1865
187018801890190019101920
1926
[UK]Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 84/1: She [...] blamed Squib for taking the best of her while she was ‘maxy’.
[US] in H. Asbury Sucker’s Progress (1938) 71: There is but one way to gamble successfully, and that is to get Tools to work with and have the best of every Game you get into.
[US]J. O’Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 32: All this made me suspect that the Captain had somehow the best of his adversaries. But how? was the question.
[US]G. Devol Forty Years a Gambler 20: The Red Man was a good poker player, and was always looking for the best of it.
[US]Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 7 July 7/3: Cullen had perhaps a shade the best of it [i.e. a prizefight].
[US]J. Black You Can’t Win (2000) 14: It has often been a question with me just how much the best of it a boy has [...] who has a home and its influences.

In phrases

get the best of it (v.) (also have the best of it)

(Aus./US) to gain an advantage, typically in a gambling game.

1821
18501900
1947
[UK]Egan Life in London (1869) 227: [note] Nine times out of ten the Watchmen ‘get the best’ of the night-charges.
[UK]Sporting Gaz. (London) 30 Nov. 10/3: [W]e fear, no matter what precautions might be adopted against their intrusion, that still (in their own slang) they [i.e. racecourse touts] would have ‘the best of it’.
[US]B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 141: I think George was getting the best of it, at that.
give someone best (v.) (also give it best, give something best)

to leave, to abandon, to acknowledge defeat.

1879
18801890190019101920193019401950
1955
[UK] ‘Autobiog. of a Thief’ in Macmillan’s Mag. (London) XL 501: After a time I gave him best (left him) because he wanted to bite my ear (borrow) too often.
[Aus]‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery Under Arms (1922) 48: I could hardly stand for laughing, till the calf gave him best and walked.
[UK]D. Sladen in Barrère & Leland Sl., Jargon and Cant I 409/2: To give best means originally to acknowledge, and thus passes easily to mean the natural corollary of a confession of inferiority, relinquishing or submitting.
[Aus]H. Lawson ‘He Mourned His Master’ in Roderick (1967–9) I 106: And bushmen came and tried the world, / And ‘gave it best’ without assistance.
[Aus]‘Banjo’ Paterson ‘Saltbush Bill’ in Man from Snowy River (1902) 54: Then the drover said he would fight no more and he gave his opponent best.
[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 30 July 34/2: ‘So when me chance came I gave it best an’ cleared out t’ make another start. I did it as much for ’er sake as for me own [...].’ [Ibid.] 3 Sept. 36/2: [A]fter we had been at it until sundown and were all the color of the road from head to foot, we gave it best.
[Aus]H. Lawson ‘Joseph’s Dreams and Reuben’s Brethren’ in Roderick (1967–9) II 97: He [...] gave it best, and, riding back, / Said firmly, ‘Strike me pink!’.
[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 12 Dec. 30/1: ‘Come on!’ He stirred the cabman bald – / ‘Don’t give the d---n thing best!’ / The cursing cabman woke the steed, / And roused it to its feet [...].
[Aus]C.J. Dennis ‘Digger Smith’ in Chisholm (1951) 93: Then ’e digs ’arf a fag out uv ’is vest, / Borrers me matches, an’ I gives ’im best.
[UK]Kipling ‘A Madonna of the Trenches’ in Debits and Credits (1926) 242: Suppose we face Bogey instead of giving him best every time.
[UK](con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 22: Best, To Give It: To give up. To acknowlege defeat.
[UK](con. WWI) F. Richards Old Soldiers Never Die (1964) 56: We didn’t want to use force on an old lady [...] so we gave her best.
[Aus]N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 233/2: give best – concede, admit defeat.
give someone the best of it (v.) (also give someone/something best)

(Aus./US) to allow someone the advantage, typically in a gambling game.

1887
18901900191019201930
1940
J. Farrell How He Died 80: Charley gave life best and died of grief.
‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Miner’s Right 174: It’s not like an Englishman to jack up and give these fellows best.
[US]F. Hutchison Philosophy of Johnny the Gent 23: I’d rather listen to the beef of a supposed to be smart bloke that’s given the best of it.
[UK]C.E. Mulford ‘Hopalong’s Hop’ in Pearson’s Mag. Nov. 🌐 This man gave him all the best of it just to tempt him to make a break.
[US]Bud Fisher drawing in S.F. Examiner 9 Oct. n.p.: Me. And I gave myself the best of it at that.
[US]R. Lardner ‘Champion’ in Coll. Short Stories (1941) 116: I gave him all the best of it in a money way.
[US]D. Runyon ‘A Nice Price’ in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 196: Giving her a few points the best of it.
[US]W. Winchell ‘On Broadway’ 6 Aug. [synd. col.] Mr. McEvoy’s Satevepost piece comes out this coming Tuesday. He sure gave you the best of it.
[US]D. Maurer Big Con 107: They gave him the best of it for about fifty G.