1 B2 idiomatic informal
to make someone feel nervous, confused, or less confident, often on purpose
"He kept staring at his opponent, trying to psych him out before the match."
separable
psych out
B2 informal separable transitive
to upset, confuse, or intimidate someone mentally
In plain English
to get into someone's head and make them nervous
What does "psych out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
to mentally unsettle yourself by overthinking or worrying
"Don't psych yourself out before the interview."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Literally, to affect someone's mind and push them out of confidence.
Actually means
to get into someone's head and make them nervous
Usage tip
Common in sports, school, and social situations. Often implies deliberate psychological pressure.
Words that pair with "psych out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
opponent rival other team before the game test-takers competitors
How to conjugate "psych out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
psych out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
psyches out
he/she/it
Past simple
psyched out
yesterday
Past participle
psyched out
have + pp
-ing form
psyching out
continuous
Hear "psych out" in the wild
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