What is the origin of the idiom "the better part of something" and when to use it?

The idiom "the better part of something" has been used in English for centuries and is rooted in the concept of comparing two or more parts of a whole, with one part being considered superior or more significant than the others. This phrase has been used in English for centuries and is rooted in the concept of comparing two or more parts of a whole, with one part being considered superior or more significant than the others.