Meaning & use
being at your best
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
the state of performing or feeling as well as you possibly can
Grammar: Used after be: 'You are at your best when...' The possessive changes with the subject: at my best, at his best, etc.
Patterns
- be at your best
- at your best when ...
- not at your best
She is at her best when she is working under pressure.
I don't feel at my best today; I think I'm getting a cold.
The team was at its best in the second half of the game.
phrasefixed phrase
behaving in the most polite or appropriate way you can
Grammar: Often used in the negative: 'He wasn't at his best at the party' means he behaved badly.
Patterns
- not be at your best
- be at your best behavior
The children were not at their best during the long car trip.
Please be at your best when the guests arrive.
Common combinations
- at your best
- You are at your best when you are relaxed and confident.
- not at your best
- He wasn't at his best yesterday and said some things he regrets.
- at your best behavior
- The students were on their best behavior for the visitor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- in top form
- Similar meaning, but 'in top form' is often used for sports and performance, while 'at your best' is more general.
- at your peak
- This suggests the highest point of ability, often used for athletes; 'at your best' can be temporary and situation-specific.
Opposites
Commonly confused: being at your best or at best?
being at your best vs at best
'At best' means 'even in the most favorable case' (e.g., 'At best, we'll finish by noon'), while 'at your best' means performing well.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'being at your best' correctly.
Choose one answer.
The correct phrase is 'at his best' with a possessive adjective. Option 0 is correct. Option 1 uses 'at best', which means 'even in the best case'. Option 2 adds 'the'. Option 3 uses 'on' instead of 'at'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “being at your best”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.