bluffing

[ bluhf-ing ]

noun

1. the act of misleading someone by a display of strength, self-confidence, or the like:

   While the bluffing goes on at the negotiating table, the public, the striking workers, and the employer all lose.

2. Poker, Bridge. the act of deceiving an opponent by a show of confidence in the strength of one’s cards:

   The digital version of the game falls short, because the bluffing needs that eye-to-eye contact, the smug and knowing smiles.

adjective

1. deceiving or misleading someone by a display of strength or confidence:

   Determining whether one faces a serious or bluffing adversary constitutes a major challenge in the bargaining process.

   “Advertising budget” is a poker term for the amount of chips a bluffing player is willing to invest to deceive opponents.

Other Words From

• un·bluff·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bluffing¹

First recorded in 1845–50; bluff ²( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses; bluff ²( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

Putin has previously warned that such a move from the US would amount to direct participation of Nato countries in the war - but Maj Omelyan said this was simply “bluffing”.

From BBC

“I’m bluffing. But you wait and see. I’ll bluff the Justice Department into backing down.”

From Salon

Most Western analysts think President Putin is bluffing when he rattles the nuclear sabre.

From BBC

Tucker camped underneath and made the catch, and Rojas took several aggressive steps toward home, bluffing as if he was going home.

From Seattle Times

But he had better not be bluffing, because he’s up against a judge who isn’t.

From Los Angeles Times