outfox

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *úd

Proto-Germanic *ūt

Proto-Germanic *ūt-

Old English ūt-

Middle English ut-

English out-

Proto-Indo-European *púḱsos

Proto-Germanic *fuhsaz

Old English fox

Middle English fox

English fox

English outfox

From out- + fox.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌaʊtˈfɒks/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /ˌaʊtˈfɑks/
• Rhymes: -ɒks

Verb

outfox (third-person singular simple present outfoxes, present participle outfoxing, simple past and past participle outfoxed)

1. (transitive) To beat (someone) in a competition of wits with superior cleverness or cunning; to outsmart.

   Synonyms: outwit, outthink, outmaneuver, outguess, outslick, (archaic) overreach

   • 2002, The Football Coaching Bible, page 145:

     You can win games in two ways. You either outtalent and outmuscle your opponent because you have all the big, fast studs, or you outfox, outplot, and outmaneuver your opponent because you have a system that your opponents can't prepare for in one week.

Derived terms

• outfoxer

Translations

outsmart — see outsmart