psych (redirected from psyches out)

psych out someone

to make someone believe that they will fail. Our strategy is to psych out the other team before the game begins. She failed the test after psyching herself out, thinking how important it was for her future.

psych someone up

to make someone enthusiastic about something they will do. The children were so psyched up about about the trip that they could hardly sleep. Tim was psyching himself up to run the 26.2-mile course.

Usage notes: sometimes used without up: Willa is really psyched, and hopefully that will get the others excited.