psych out

See also: psychout

English

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Etymology

Recorded since 1934 (in sense of "outsmart"); from psych (short for psychology) + out.

Verb

psych out (third-person singular simple present psychs out, present participle psyching out, simple past and past participle psyched out)

1. (transitive, informal) To outsmart.
2. (transitive, informal) To unnerve.

Noun

psych out (plural psych outs)

1. (informal) The act of unnerving somebody.

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “psych”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

• outpsych