second-guessern.
/ˌsɛkəndˈɡɛsə/ colloquial (originally and chiefly U.S.). Also as two words.
1. In Baseball, a spectator who criticizes the playing of a team or the decisions of the umpire, usually with the benefit of hindsight; hence gen., one who criticizes (the actions or decisions of) another person after the event.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > [noun] > critic > by hindsight
second-guesser1937
1937 Sporting News Record Bk. 65 [Guesser, an umpire.]
1937 Sporting News Record Bk. 66 Secondguesser, one who is continually criticizing moves of players and manager.
1941 B. Schulberg What makes Sammy Run? xi. 192 After Deadline the second-guessers were saying I could only make mellers [sc. melodramas].
1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §637/3 Second guesser, a ‘fan’ who criticizes the umpire.
1950 R. Chandler Let. 9 Oct. (1966) 80 I suppose these primping second-guessers who call themselves critics think he shouldn't have written the book at all.
1953 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang (1954) §671/5 Second guesser, a fan ready with advice on how the game should be played—after it is over.
1972 R. K. Smith Ransom iv. 154 You're a professional second guesser, Stuart. Why didn't you speak up when we were discussing the question?
1978 Times 18 Apr. 16/5 President Johnson recognized the value of opposition and even appointed George Ball as his in-house second-guesser.
2. One who predicts the result of a horse race. rare.
ΚΠ
1939 New Yorker 13 May 80/2 He may not be quite the wonder horse the flushed and eager second-guessers insist he is.
1953 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang (1954) §730/7 Second guesser, the pest who always knew what horse would win—after it was won.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
<
n.1937