What is the origin of the phrase “psych-out?”?
The American Heritage Dictionary gives the date (1934) — but thats it. I would like more complete information, if possible — perhaps an example of early usage.
Top 2 Answers
Favorite Answer
Psych- short for psychology in various senses; as an academic study, in student slang by 1895. The verb is generally negative when used transitively, positive when intransitive; first attested (also psych out) 1934 as “to outsmart,” from 1963 as “to unnerve.” However to psych (oneself) up is from 1972; to be psyched up is attested from 1968.
0
psych out
1. Analyze or understand something; also, anticipate the intentions of someone, as in It’s hard to psych out the opposition’s thinking, but we have to try.
2. Undermine the confidence of, intimidate. For example, The basketball team managed to psych out their opponents’ guards. This expression is often used in the passive and can mean “lose one’s nerve,” as in After I learned that he had two doctorates in the field, I was completely psyched out. Both slangy usages date from the second half of the 1900s and allude to influencing someone psychologically.
0
