ˌsecond-ˈguess verb [transitive]

1. to try to say what will happen or what someone will do before they do it:
I’m not going to try and second-guess the committee’s decisions.

2. American English to criticize something after it has already happened:
The decision has been made – there’s no point in second-guessing it now.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

second-guess
second-guess (someone/something)
1.
to try to guess what will happen or what someone will do.
It's not for us to second-guess the court's decision - we'll just have to wait and see. (American & Australian)

2.
to criticize someone's actions or an event after it has happened.
It's easy to second-guess the team's coach - but let's face it, he made big mistakes.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

second-guess something
second-guess (someone/something)
1.
to try to guess what will happen or what someone will do.
It's not for us to second-guess the court's decision - we'll just have to wait and see. (American & Australian)

2.
to criticize someone's actions or an event after it has happened.
It's easy to second-guess the team's coach - but let's face it, he made big mistakes.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

second-guess
to try to guess what someone else intends to do or would have done in a situation
You should never try to second-guess the actions of the firefighters in a dangerous situation.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

second guess
v. phr.
1. To criticize another's decision with advantage of hindsight.
The losing team's coach is always second-guessed.
2. To guess what someone else intends or would think or do.
Television planners try to second-guess the public.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲