outfoxv.
/ˌaʊtˈfɒks/, U.S. /ˌaʊtˈfɑks/ transitive. To outdo in cunning; to outwit.
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
1872 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 3 He might destroy every link of evidence, if he once knew that we were in chase of him; even as he could out-fox a fox.
1951 Amer. Hist. Rev. 57 179 Collis P. Huntington..managed to outbuild and outfox Tom Scott.
1973 J. Jones Touch of Danger lvi. 320 I guess you've got the drop on me... You outfoxed me.
1994 New Scientist 27 Aug. 42/3 Strict observation could later be extended by exact deduction or calculation.., much as Sherlock Holmes outfoxed criminals from the comfort of his armchair.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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