Bluff

/blʌf/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A steep cliff or bank.

The hikers stopped to enjoy the view from the bluff overlooking the river.

An attempt to deceive someone; a false display of confidence.

Her bold statement was just a bluff to hide her uncertainty.

verb

To deceive or trick someone into believing something that is not true, often by pretending to be stronger or more confident than one actually is.

He tried to bluff his way through the interview by pretending to have experience he lacked.

To create a false impression, especially in a game or competition.

In poker, players often bluff to make their opponents fold.

Originated from the Dutch word 'bluffen', meaning to puff or swell.

call someone's bluff

To challenge someone to prove their claims or assertions.

bluff one's way through

To manage to skip through something with insincerity or deceit.

bluff it out

To handle a difficult situation with boldness.

put up a bluff

To create a facade or misleading impression.

deception

The act of deceiving or misleading.

pretend

To act as if something is true when it is not.

sham

Something that is not what it purports to be.

falsity

The quality of being untrue.

To bluff someone off their game

He really bluffed me off my game during that last hand.

Bluffing in conversation

She was just bluffing in conversation to sound more knowledgeable.