Second guess

Posted by ESC on December 09, 2003

In Reply to: Second guess posted by ESC on December 09, 2003

: : : Where does this come from??? Why "second" guess, when you guess BEFORE the speaker says the answer???

: : When you guess both the question and the answer.

: From Merriam-Webster online:

: Main Entry: sec·ond-guess
: Pronunciation: "se-k&[ng]-'ges, -k&n(d)-
: Function: transitive verb
: Date: 1941
: 1 : to criticize or question actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known. Meet almost every morning and, over coffee, second-guess the local coach -- Bruce Newman; also : to engage in such criticism of (an action or decision) Second-guess the general's strategy.

: 2 : to seek to anticipate or predict. Lived royally by his ability to second-guess the stock market -- Time.
: - sec·ond-guess·er noun