Better luck next time

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1. an expression that comforts someone for a minor failure. (Said with a pleasant tone of voice.) Bill: That does it! I can't run any farther. Hose! Bob: Too bad. Better luck next time. Mary: Well, that's the end of my brand new weight lifting career. Jane: Better luck next time.

2. an expression that ridicules someone for a failure. (Said with rudeness or sarcasm. The tone of voice distinguishes {2} from {2}.) Sally: I lost out to you, but I think you cheated. Mary: Better luck next time. Sue: You thought you could get ahead of me, you fool! Better luck next time! Joan: I still think you cheated.

See also: better, luck, next, time

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He was a cheerful man, poor soul; and thoughtful of us, too: he never came in and stared at meal-times; the rest of 'em help us, and scold us -- all he ever said was, better luck next time. No Name by Collins, Wilkie View in context			best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray bestow on bet bet bottom dollar bet dollars to doughnuts bet life bet on bet on it bet the farm bet the ranch bet with bet your life bête noire betroth to betsy better Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave better be going Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion better get moving better get on my horse better half Better keep still about it Better late than never better left unsaid Better luck next time better of better off Better safe than sorry better than nothing better than sex better the devil you know Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know better things to do between between a rock and a hard place between jobs between life and death between the devil and the deep blue sea between you and me between you me and the bedpost betwixt and between bevy of beauties beware beware of Beware of Greeks bearing gifts beyond beyond a reasonable doubt beyond a shadow of a doubt beyond depth beyond help			Better Known As Better late than never Better late than never Better Left Alone Better Left Unsaid Better Left Unsaid Better Life Association for Comprehensive Development Better Life Option Better Life Organization Better Life Programme for Rural Women Better Life Technology Better Lighting Technology Better Listings on Google Better Lives for Our Communities and Kids Better Living for Texans Better Living Home Care Better Living in North Quabbin Better Living Through Acronyms Better Living Through Blogging Better Living Through Chemistry Better Living through Design Better Living through Mathematics Better Living Through Technology Better Logic Using Expert Software Better Love Yourself Better Luck Next Game Better luck next time Better Luck Tomorrow Better Markup Language Better Medication Management System Better Motors Better Batteries Better mousetrap Better Movie Making Monthly Better Music Builder better nature better nature better nature Better Neighbourhood Services Fund better of Better of Two Option Better of Two Options better off better off better off better off Better Off Dead Better Off Modified Baby Better Off Single Mom Better On Lips Than On Paper Better Online Solutions Better Opportunities for Single/Unaccompanied Soldiers Better Opportunities Through Online Education Better or Worse Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative Better Parenting Institute

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