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second-guess Definition

second-guess (sek′ənd ges′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

Informal to use hindsight in criticizing or advising (someone), re-solving (a past problem), remaking (a decision), etc.

second-guess Related Forms
sec′ond-guess′er noun
second-guess Usage Examples

Object

  • decision: That would put her in the position of second-guessing every decision.
  • market: He is also asking them to second-guess the market.
  • judgment: You may critique a sales presentation one minute and have your legal judgment second-guessed by a programmer the next.
  • judgment: In Clark [ View ] it was said that it would be ' jejune and inappropriate ' for the courts to second-guess academic judgment.
  • caption: Some libraries do no keywording whatsoever â designers simply have to second-guess the caption.
  • outcome: It would be entirely inappropriate to try to second-guess the outcome of that procedure.

Used with why or when

  • what: We spent much of the time second-guessing what we had done to date.
  • where: The problem for the property industry is second-guessing where such demand will focus.
  • who: Try and second-guess who and why you want people to find your site.

Modifying Another Word

  • n't: That is, if Ollie saw the goddam broadcast, and was n't second-guessing from old reports.. .
  • not: I tried to let the ideas flow through and not second-guess them.
  • then: We changed, the scene changed So a lot of the time was used up starting ideas and then second-guessing them.