outsmartv.
/ˌaʊtˈsmɑːt/, U.S. /ˌaʊtˈsmɑrt/ colloquial.
transitive. To defeat or get the better of (a person, etc.) through superior skill or ingenuity; to prove too clever for; to outwit. Occasionally reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > treat cunningly [verb (transitive)] > circumvent or overreach
overgoc1275
circumvene1526
circumvent1564
undercreep1592
overreach1594
circuit1614
out-juggle1620
outwit?1630
out-plot1648
overwit1671
Cretizea1673
outjockey1714
to steal a march1771
to get over ——1784
Jew1825
outfox1872
outsmart1926
blindside1968
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > treat fraudulently, cheat [verb (transitive)] > outwit, get the better of
undergoa1325
circumvene1526
crossbitec1555
circumvent1564
gleek1577
outreach1579
fob1583
overreach1594
fub1600
encompassa1616
out-craftya1616
out-knave1648
mump1649
jockey1708
come1721
nail1735
slew1813
Jew1825
to sew up1837
to play (it) low down (on)1864
outfox1872
beat1873
outcraft1879
to get a beat on1889
old soldier1892
to put one over1905
to get one over on1912
to get one over1921
outsmart1926
shaft1959
1926 H. C. Witwer Roughly Speaking iii. 95 Young Farrell seemed to have more than recovered from Ben's terrible right hand blow, for he was now doing what Pete told me was ‘outsmarting’ Ben.
1954 J. Steinbeck Sweet Thursday xxi. 131 It is such fun to outsmart a smart guy.
1961 ‘B. Wells’ Day Earth caught Fire viii. 128 Hell, we're all so bloody clever at outsmarting nature. Anything you can split I can split better.
1975 J. F. Burke Death Trick (1976) xii. 156 Like all smart crooks, he outsmarted himself.
1977 R.A.F. News 8–21 June 4/2 While the authorities dither and disagree on a plan of action, the beast continues his rampage of death, outsmarting every move to trap him.
1997 A. Golden Mem. of Geisha xxvii. 320 If she'd been sober, I wouldn't even have tried to outsmart her right then.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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