had better, had rather

had better, had rather
Had better is widely used in giving advice or issuing a mild threat: "We had better get started before midnight." "You had better apologize to me for that remark." The phrase had best can be substituted for had better in such expressions. Neither is so exact as should. Better had (You better had get here soon) is dialectal or illiterate. Had rather (and also would rather) indicates a preference: "I had rather (or would rather) stay than go."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • Had rather — Had Had (h[a^]d), imp. & p. p. of {Have}. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. h[ae]fde.] See {Have}. [1913 Webster] {Had as lief}, {Had rather}, {Had better}, {Had as soon}, etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Had rather — Rather Rath er (r[a^][th] [ e]r; 277), adv. [AS. hra[eth]or, compar. of hra[eth]e, hr[ae][eth]e, quickly, immediately. See {Rath}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. Earlier; sooner; before. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Thou shalt, quod he, be rather false than I.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • had\ rather — • had rather • had sooner v To choose to (do one thing instead of another thing); like better to; would prefer to. Used with an infinitive without to . My aunt invited me to the movies, but I said I had rather go on a picnic with the girls. I had …   Словарь американских идиом

  • had rather — or[had sooner] {v.} To choose to (do one thing instead of another thing); like better to; would prefer to. Used with an infinitive without to . * /My aunt invited me to the movies, but I said I had rather go on a picnic with the girls./ * /I had… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • had rather — or[had sooner] {v.} To choose to (do one thing instead of another thing); like better to; would prefer to. Used with an infinitive without to . * /My aunt invited me to the movies, but I said I had rather go on a picnic with the girls./ * /I had… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • had rather — See had better, had rather …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • Had better — Had Had (h[a^]d), imp. & p. p. of {Have}. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. h[ae]fde.] See {Have}. [1913 Webster] {Had as lief}, {Had rather}, {Had better}, {Had as soon}, etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Had — (h[a^]d), imp. & p. p. of {Have}. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. h[ae]fde.] See {Have}. [1913 Webster] {Had as lief}, {Had rather}, {Had better}, {Had as soon}, etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well established… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Had as lief — Had Had (h[a^]d), imp. & p. p. of {Have}. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. h[ae]fde.] See {Have}. [1913 Webster] {Had as lief}, {Had rather}, {Had better}, {Had as soon}, etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Had as soon — Had Had (h[a^]d), imp. & p. p. of {Have}. [OE. had, hafde, hefde, AS. h[ae]fde.] See {Have}. [1913 Webster] {Had as lief}, {Had rather}, {Had better}, {Had as soon}, etc., with a nominative and followed by the infinitive without to, are well… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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