(Harbinger’s Daily) To “psych out” means to insinuate a sense of intimidation into the cognitive process. At least that term encompasses the achieved ramification to my way of intended meaning.
There are a plethora of examples, but here are just a few:
Bobby Fisher, an undefeated chess champion in the early 1970s, was a reclusive, thus an unknown player who many say “psyched out” his Russian-Soviet opponent, Boris Spassky, in their July 1972 world championship match. Fisher was a strange, eccentric man holding anti-Semitic views. His brooding reclusiveness and odd ways apparently had a tendency to intimidate opponents who had to face him in their matches.
Another more familiar case of “psyching out” opponents might be when Goliath, the giant warrior, intimidated the Israelites—that is until he came up against young David, Israel’s future king. (Read More)
