psych

psych (someone or oneself) out

To psychologically manipulate or intimidate someone or oneself with the result of undermining performance or confidence. The boxer is notorious for the obnoxious and belittling taunts he uses to psych out his opponents. I got so nervous before starting the driving test that I think I just psyched myself out.
See also: out, psych

psych (someone or oneself) up

To increase someone's or one's own excitement, confidence, or mental preparation. The coach psyched us all up just before we headed out onto the field. I was pretty nervous before the test, so I took a few minutes to psych myself up before I started.
See also: psych, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

psych out

 
1. Inf. to have a nervous or emotional trauma; to go mad for a brief time. Another day like this one and I'll psych out for sure. He looked at the bill and psyched out.
2. Inf. to become very excited; to lose mental control. I was so angry, I almost psyched out. The kids were psyching out over the rock star.
See also: out, psych

psych someone out

 
1. Inf. to get someone very excited; to cause someone to lose mental control. Wow! What you just said really psyched me out! He psyched out his friends.
2. Inf. to figure someone out; to know how someone thinks. It took me a while to psych out Fred, but I have him figured out now. Don't waste time trying to psych me out. I am an enigma.
See also: out, psych

psych someone up

Inf. to get someone excited or mentally prepared for something. I psyched myself up to sing in front of all those people. The coach psyched up the team for the game.
See also: psych, up

psych up

Inf. to get mentally ready for something. I have to psych up before the big game tonight. We want to psych up so we can play a good game.
See also: psych, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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.
See also: out, psych

psych up

Excite emotionally, as in The chorus was really psyched up for performing in Symphony Hall. [Slang; c. 1970]
See also: psych, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

psych out

v.
To undermine the confidence of someone by psychological means; intimidate someone: The admissions officer really psyched me out during the interview. They psyched out the other team by chanting.
See also: out, psych

psych up

v.
To prepare someone mentally for some task or activity: The preview psyched us up to see the film. The coach's speech psyched up the team for the game.
See also: psych, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

psych out

in. to have a nervous or emotional trauma; to go mad for a brief time. (see also freak (out).) Another day like this one and I’ll psych out for sure.
See also: out, psych

psych someone out

tv. to try to figure out what someone is likely to do. The batter tried to psych out the pitcher, but it didn’t work.
See also: out, psych, someone

psych someone up

tv. to get someone excited or mentally prepared for something. (see also psyched (up).) I psyched myself up to sing in front of all those people.
See also: psych, someone, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • for (one's) (own) sake
  • for sake
  • keep (someone or something) in sight
  • keep in sight
  • keep sight of
  • keep sight of (someone or something)
  • keep sight of somebody/something
  • leave (someone, something, or oneself) (wide) open for (something)
  • leave oneself wide open for
  • leave open
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