Outmaneuvered: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The term 'maneuver' comes from the French word 'manoeuvre', which means to handle or manage, reflecting skill in movement.
• It first appeared in English around the late 17th century, originally related to military movements.
• The prefix 'out-' indicates exceeding or surpassing, creating the meaning of being more clever in strategy or tactics.

Military Strategy

• Outmaneuvering is a key tactic in military strategy, where one side seeks to gain a strategic advantage by outsmarting the opponent's movements.
• Famous generals like Hannibal used outmaneuvering during battles to defeat larger armies by using terrain and deception.
• In modern warfare, the concept applies to both physical and cyber domains, where agility and cunning are crucial.

Sports

• In team sports, players often outmaneuver their opponents by using fakes, speed, and agility to score points.
• Sports like soccer and basketball emphasize the importance of strategy, where players can outmaneuver others to create scoring opportunities.
• Coaches teach athletes to think ahead and read opponents, an essential skill for outmaneuvering effectively.

Psychology

• Outmaneuvering can relate to social interactions where someone uses wit or manipulation to gain the upper hand in conversations.
• It often requires a good understanding of body language and psychological cues to predict others' actions.
• In competitive environments, the ability to outmaneuver is linked to higher emotional intelligence and adaptability.

Literature

• Characters in literature who outmaneuver their foes often embody intelligence and cunning, such as Odysseus in Greek mythology.
• In detective stories, the protagonist frequently outmaneuvers criminals through clever deductions and strategic planning.
• The theme of outmaneuvering is common in literary genres like thrillers and espionage, where mind games drive the plot.

Ranking #36,745, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

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