Green’s Dictionary of Slang

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

1821		Egan Life in London (1869) 227: [note] Nine times out of ten the Watchmen ‘get the best’ of the night-charges.
1872		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’.
1947		B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 141: I think George was getting the best of it, at that.

to leave, to abandon, to acknowledge defeat.

1879		‘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.
1888		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery Under Arms (1922) 48: I could hardly stand for laughing, till the calf gave him best and walked.
1889-90		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.
1890		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.
1895		‘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.
1903		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.
1905		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!’.
1912		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 [...].
1918		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.
1923		Kipling ‘A Madonna of the Trenches’ in Debits and Credits (1926) 242: Suppose we face Bogey instead of giving him best every time.
1925		(con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 22: Best, To Give It: To give up. To acknowlege defeat.
1933		(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.
1955		N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 233/2: give best – concede, admit defeat.

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

1887		J. Farrell How He Died 80: Charley gave life best and died of grief.
1890		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Miner’s Right 174: It’s not like an Englishman to jack up and give these fellows best.
1905		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.
1912		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.
1913		Bud Fisher drawing in S.F. Examiner 9 Oct. n.p.: Me. And I gave myself the best of it at that.
1916		R. Lardner ‘Champion’ in Coll. Short Stories (1941) 116: I gave him all the best of it in a money way.
1931		D. Runyon ‘A Nice Price’ in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 196: Giving her a few points the best of it.
1938		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.
1940		D. Maurer Big Con 107: They gave him the best of it for about fifty G.