had better

• 'd better, better (see usage note)

See better (adverb)

• Audio (General Australian):

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had better

1. (idiomatic, with bare infinitive, informal) Should; ought to; need to; must.

   You had better finish that homework on time, if you want to get a good grade.

   “Will we get it finished?” / “We had better.”

   The project had better get finished by the current deadline.

   I ought to go and see Mike one of these days. - Well, you'd better do it soon, because he’s leaving for Tanzania at the end of the week.

• The negative form is had better not, but in question hadn’t is also possible (see also bettern't).
• Had better is a strong expression. It usually indicates that there will be a consequence or negative result if someone does not follow the suggestion.
• Colloquially, had is often reduced to the clitic 'd or omitted. See better.

We'd better be ready when the time comes.

You better have my money by tomorrow.

• had best