bluff

¹

[ bluhf ]

adjective

, bluff·er, bluff·est.

1. good-naturedly direct, blunt, or frank; heartily outspoken:

   a big, bluff, generous man.

   Synonyms: straightforward, plain-spoken, honest, open, forthright, direct, blunt

   Antonyms: roundabout, indirect, circuitous

2. presenting a bold and nearly perpendicular front, as a coastline:

   a bluff, precipitous headland.

   Synonyms: steep, abrupt

3. Nautical. (of the bow of a vessel) having a full, blunt form.

noun

1. a cliff, headland, or hill with a broad, steep face.
2. North Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Canadian Prairie Provinces. a clump or grove of trees on a prairie or other generally treeless area.

bluff

²

[ bluhf ]

verb (used with object)

1. to mislead by a display of knowledge, self-confidence, or boldness:

   He bluffed me into believing that he was a doctor.

   Synonyms: trick, mislead, hoodwink, delude, dupe, fool, deceive

2. to gain by a misleading display of knowledge, self-confidence, or boldness:

   He bluffed his way into the job.

3. Poker, Bridge. to deceive (an opponent) by a show of confidence in the strength of one's cards.

verb (used without object)

1. to mislead someone by presenting a bold, strong, or self-confident front:

   They threatened to sue, but they were only bluffing.

2. Poker, Bridge. to deceive an opponent by a show of confidence in the strength of one's cards.

noun

1. an act or instance or the practice of misleading by presenting a bold, strong, or self-confident front:

   Her story was all a bluff to get money from us.

   His assertive manner is mostly bluff.

2. a person who misleads by presenting knowledge, self-confidence, or boldness; bluffer:

   That big bluff doesn't have a nickel to his name.

bluff

¹

/ blʌf /

verb

1. to pretend to be confident about an uncertain issue or to have undisclosed resources, in order to influence or deter (someone)

noun

1. deliberate deception intended to create the impression of a stronger position or greater resources than one actually has
2. call someone's bluff
   to challenge someone to give proof of his claims

bluff

²

/ blʌf /

noun

1. a steep promontory, bank, or cliff, esp one formed by river erosion on the outside bend of a meander
2. a clump of trees on the prairie; copse

adjective

1. good-naturedly frank and hearty
2. (of a bank, cliff, etc) presenting a steep broad face

Derived Forms

• ˈbluffer, noun
• ˈbluffness, noun
• ˈbluffly, adverb

Other Words From

• bluffly adverb
• bluffness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bluff¹

First recorded in 1620–30; origin uncertain; perhaps from Middle Low German blaff “smooth, even,” or from Middle Dutch blaf “broad, flat,” i.e., of a face or forehead

Origin of bluff²

First recorded in 1665–75; origin uncertain; perhaps from Low German bluffen “to bluster, frighten”; akin to Middle Dutch bluffen “to make a trick at cards”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bluff¹

C19: originally US poker-playing term, from Dutch bluffen to boast

Origin of bluff²

C17 (in the sense: nearly perpendicular): perhaps from Middle Dutch blaf broad

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bluff with rags, Poker. to display confidence in the strength of one's hand when that hand is weak, as a way to win by making an opponent withdraw from play.
2. call someone's bluff, to expose a person's deception, or challenge someone to carry out a threat:

   He always said he would quit, so we finally called his bluff.

More idioms and phrases containing bluff

see call someone's bluff .

Synonym Study

See blunt.

Example Sentences

As the conference approached its scheduled end this week, the U.N.’s climate chief chided negotiators for digging in their heels and wasting time with bluffing and brinkmanship.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think he just bluffs,” Herm says of Newman.

From Science Magazine

The fear is that although Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats have turned out to be largely bluffs, allowing Ukraine to hit targets deep inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles could provoke a major escalation.

From BBC

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

Jens Stoltenberg, the former Nato boss, said the West had “called Putin’s bluff” over nuclear threats - implying it had crossed many of Putin’s red lines without anything happening.

From BBC

Related Words

• cliff
• crag
• hill
• promontory
• ridge

More About Bluff

What does bluff mean?

Bluff describes someone or something that is blunt or frank in a good-natured way. Someone who talks in a bluff manner says things directly but not hurtfully.

A bluff is a cliff or hill with a tall face on one side. Bluffs often border a river or ocean because they get their shape from erosion caused by the natural flow of water.

To bluff is to mislead by showing strength or confidence. People bluff to make themselves seem more powerful, larger, or of more authority than those being bluffed. A bluff is an act of bluffing.

Example: The cabin was built along the bluff, but erosion is making it sink down the hill.

Where does bluff come from?

The first records of bluff meaning “blunt” or “cliff” come from the 1620s. It is thought to come from the Middle Dutch blaf, meaning “broad” or “flat,” which also describes the shape of the cliffside. The first records of bluff meaning “to mislead” come from the 1660s. It is thought to come from the Low German bluffen, meaning “to frighten.” Bluffing is often done to try to intimidate or frighten someone.

One of the most common uses of bluff is in the card game poker and other table games that involve betting. In poker, you place a bet, often in line with the confidence you have that your hand (the cards you’re holding) will win the game. If you bet higher than your confidence in your cards, this is a bluff. Bluffing can convince the other players that they will lose that game and force them to fold (withdraw from the game). Just as a bluff makes someone seem larger or stronger, a poker bluff makes a hand of cards seem more valuable.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to bluff?

• bluffly (adverb)
• bluffness (noun)
• bluffable (adjective)
• bluffer (noun)

What are some synonyms for bluff?

• abrupt
• cliff
• subterfuge
• delude

What are some words that often get used in discussing bluff?

• call
• poker
• ridge

How is bluff used in real life?

Bluff is often used to refer to intentionally misleading statements.

Just saw a couple threaten their crying child with divorce to shut him up. Call their bluff little man 😂

— Tom Holland (@TomHolland1996) March 25, 2018

even though she doesn't believe in love, he's determined to call her bluff

— Andrea Russett – BUTTERFLY WINGS OUT NOW (@AndreaRussett) April 18, 2015

I get a kick out of calling your bluff when you testing my game 🏁

— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) April 19, 2019

Try using bluff!

Is bluff used correctly in the following sentence?

I know you’re telling the truth, and I am calling your bluff.