psych out
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To outsmart.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To unnerve.
Register: informal
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “psych out” mean?
To outsmart.
Is “psych out” formal or informal?
psych out is generally informal.