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Second-guess for Dummies

verb

pronunciation: 'sɛkənd'ɡɛs

What does Second-guess really mean?

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Hey there! Let me explain to you what "second-guess" means. Have you ever been in a situation where you were unsure about something, like making a decision or answering a question? Well, "second-guessing" is a way of thinking about that situation again and trying to decide what the best choice might be.

Imagine you're playing a game with your friends and you have to guess the right answer to win. Now, sometimes after you make your initial guess, you start to doubt if it was the correct answer. That's when you start to second-guess yourself. You might go back and think about the clues again, reconsider different options, and weigh the possibilities. It's like taking a second look at things to see if you can come up with a better answer or make a different decision.

So, "second-guessing" means to doubt your original choice or decision and then reevaluate it by thinking about it again. It's like giving yourself a second chance to think things through and maybe make a more informed or confident choice.

Let's look at the word "second-guess" from a different angle. Are you familiar with the idea of a race?

Imagine you're in a race, running as fast as you can to reach the finish line. Sometimes, you might think you're doing really well and that you're going to win the race. But suddenly, doubt creeps in. You start wondering if you could have run even faster or taken a different route that would have given you an edge over your competitors. That's when you second-guess yourself in the race. You start to question your abilities, your strategies, and think about what you could have done differently. It's like having a little voice in your head saying, "Should I have done something else? Could I have done better?"

Just like in a race, "second-guessing" means doubting your performance or choices and considering if there was a better way or a better decision you could have made. It's like giving yourself a chance to reflect and evaluate your actions, allowing you to learn and improve for next time.

So, to sum it all up, "second-guess" means to doubt your original choice, decision, or performance, and then take a second look at it to see if there might be a better option, answer, or way of doing things. It's all about reconsidering, reflecting, and trying to learn from your experiences. I hope that makes sense to you!


Revised and Fact checked by Robert Taylor on 2023-10-30 01:10:34

Second-guess In a sentece

Learn how to use Second-guess inside a sentece

  • When you take a test, and you are not sure of the answer, you might second-guess yourself and change your answer.
  • Imagine you are playing a game, and you have to make a decision. Sometimes, you might second-guess yourself and choose a different option.
  • Let's say you are reading a book, and you come across a tricky sentence. You might second-guess the meaning and read it again to make sure you understood correctly.
  • If you are watching a movie and trying to guess the ending, you might second-guess yourself and change your prediction as the story unfolds.
  • Imagine you are cooking a recipe for the first time. If you are unsure about the amount of spice to add, you might second-guess yourself and use less to be safe.

Second-guess Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

outguess outguess

Second-guess Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

anticipate anticipate call call comment comment forebode forebode foretell foretell predict predict prognosticate prognosticate promise promise