Second-guess

[Isbell]

Hi,
I would not second-guess any of this.
In the sentence above, I'd guess the phrase "second-guess" means the same thing as "guess". But I'm less sure. According to dictionaries, 'second-guess' means 'attempt to predict'.
I'm wondering if there is any difference between them?

Thanks.

[Luschen]

To me, second guess means to doubt your own or someone else's decision.

"With the rain starting to fall, I am second-guessing my trip to the beach."

"I would not second guess any of this." means "I agree with all of it."

[Our Tort System]

[Luschen]

Maybe my example wasn't the best. You second-guess something after the decision has been made - you are already at the beach. You have second thoughts while you are still in the process of making the decision - you have not yet left for the beach.

[Our Tort System]

I see the difference now,
Thanks again!

PS:
I just looked it up here: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/have+second+thoughts
It says that

have second thoughts
to consider changing a decision you have already made

I'm a bit confused, since you said that it means that [b]you're in the process of making the decision[b] :)
Could you elaborate some more, maybe I'm missing something....
_________________
If it's not easy, don't do it!
That's how I got where I am.

[Luschen]

I guess they are more similar than I thought. I do think that "second-guess" would come later in the process, "after the damage has been done" so to speak. Also, you can second-guess yourself or others, but you only have second thoughts about your own decisions.

[Our Tort System]

Ok, thanks for the heads-up!
I appreciate the fact that sometimes native speakers have slightly different opinions on stuff related to their language. :)
Or it could be that this particular dictionary messed up on this one.
_________________
If it's not easy, don't do it!
That's how I got where I am.

[Dozy]

Dictionaries give two different definitions for "second-guess" that are almost opposites. This is from http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/second-guess :

1 (American) to criticize a decision after the results of the decision are known

2 to guess what someone is going to do or what will happen

Luschen's understanding of it seems closer to #1 (which would obviously make sense if he/she is from the US), whereas I am from the UK and I normally understand it to mean #2.

[Luschen]

[Isbell]