suss out

Definition

To come to understand (a person).

Etymology

Clipping of suspect + out. Compare sus.

Example Sentences

• "We've sussed him out—he only drinks on Fridays and only in that bar in town."
• "In essence, security experts most familiar with this breach believe that a nation-state — likely China or Russia — stole the data in order to suss out current spies and pick out potential targets they could recruit as spies."
• "We've sussed out how to open the lock."