What is another word for psyching out?
Pronunciation: [sˈa͡ɪkɪŋ ˈa͡ʊt] (IPA) 
Psyching out is a term used particularly in sports, meaning to intimidate or throw the opponent off their game with psychological tricks. There are various other words that can be used in place of psyching out, such as mind games, psychological warfare, mind trickery, gamesmanship, or mental manipulation. The idea behind these terms is to outsmart the opponent by unsettling their mental state, which can be achieved through different means- mocking, trash-talking, deceptive actions, or even faking injuries. Irrespective of the term used, psyching out is a strategy that requires skill, presence of mind, and a level of self-control to avoid being caught up in the game of mental chess.
