against one's better judgment

/ɐɡˈɛnst wˈɒnz bˈɛtə dʒˈʌdʒmənt/

/ɐɡˈɛnst wˈʌnz bˈɛɾɚ dʒˈʌdʒmənt/

[phrase]

against one's better judgment

[PHRASE]

used when one does something even though one knows it is not sensible

What is the origin of the idiom "against one's better judgment" and when to use it?

The idiom "against one's better judgment" reflects the idea that a person is making a decision or taking an action that they believe is unwise or not in their best interest. The term "better judgment" refers to one's ability to assess a situation and make a wise or rational choice based on their knowledge and experience. This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is doing something they believe to be unwise or imprudent, often due to external pressure, circumstances, or conflicting emotions.

Examples

1. A year ago, I decided to lend my friend $2,000 against my better judgment and now she hasn't paid me back a penny and avoids me.

2. Against my better judgment, I checked my balance and saw that the last nine months of gains had been wiped out in the last six weeks.

3. Bob persuaded her to go by car, against her better judgement, and she regretted it as soon as she saw the heavy traffic.

4. And against her better judgment, Congresswoman Dean unleashed me on her own constituents.