194) To Second-Guess

(Photo from Chicago Now.)

second-guess
–verb (used with object)
1. to use hindsight in criticizing or correcting.
2. to predict (something) or outguess (someone)
(from Dictionary.com)

I've been thinking about second-guessing lately. When you make big life changes, it's only natural. Initially I figured that to second-guess implied that at some point there was a first guess. A first prediction of what the outcome might be. To second-guess, then, is to question the first guess along the way.

Apparently, I was mistaken. To second-guess is to criticize or question actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known. There's hindsight involved.

The origin, according to Dictionary.com (appropriate for all the World Series watchers out there) is:

1941, back-formation from second-guesser (1937), Amer.Eng., originally baseball slang for a fan who loudly questions decisions by players, managers, etc.; perhaps from guesser in the baseball slang sense of "umpire."

As we play ump in our own lives, categorizing our decisions and actions (STRIKE! FOUL! and hopefully not YER OUTTA THERE), I can't think of anything more useless than second-guessing. Especially when the outcome is yet to be known. The word has such negative connotations, no? In the end, it's really just double speak for doubt, fear, and apprehension.

Ah, word play. I should make that a tag. I've been interviewing, so my mind is elsewhere.