second-guess
verbUK /ˈsɛk.əndˌɡɛs/ · US /ˈsɛk.(ə)ndˌɡɛs/
Etymology A back-formation from second guesser, originally from baseball. First use appears c. 1941.
1
To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.
- Please don't try to second-guess the procedure that we have already refined and adopted.
- Once she began listening to her instincts and didn't second-guess herself the entire time, her artwork improved noticeably.
3 more examples
- Public administration would be hamstrung if courts were free to second-guess reasonable administrative decisions.1959, U.S. Court of Appeals proceedings:
- As a practical matter, a fertilizer company could not afford to second-guess the Federal Trade Commission or a jury in a triple damage case on so obscure a point.1957, United States Senate proceedings:
- If you suspect you've stepped over the line, ask a few other copy editors to second-guess your headline.2003, Editing Today:
2
To anticipate or predict someone's actions or thoughts by guesswork.
- In this day and age, it's so easy to stress / 'Cause people are strange and you can never second-guess2000, Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey, Skye Edwards, “Rome Wasn't Built In a Day”, in Fragments of Freedom, performed by Morcheeba:
- The Securities and Exchange Commission says Goldman misled two clients by failing to give adequate disclosure.[…] It is impossible to second-guess the case's outcome. But Goldman is already viewed by many as guilty.2010 April 24, “Greedy Until Proven Guilty”, in The Economist, volume 395, number 8679, page 13:
1 more example
- But it is not Network Rail's job to second guess whether the sponsoring authority really does need the scheme, and whether it has looked at other options.2019 November 6, Dennis Fancett, Rail, page 54:
- Related terms
- second guesser, second thoughts, question mark