Traditional
Still common
Definition
Investigate or figure something out.
Example Sentence
"Let me suss out where to eat tonight."
Where "Suss Out" Comes From
Derived from "suspicious," originally British slang, adapted into Australian English as a casual verb meaning to investigate or work something out.
Over time it lost most of its suspicious connotation, becoming a general, neutral way of describing figuring something out.
How Aussies Actually Use It
Common in everyday planning and decision-making โ "let me suss out where to eat tonight" is a relaxed way of saying you'll look into the options before committing.
It applies just as easily to people as to plans โ "sussing someone out" means getting a read on their character or intentions.
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