bluff
- bluff
bluff1
noun an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something.
verb try to deceive someone as to one's abilities or intentions.
Phrases
call someone's bluff
1》 challenge someone to carry out a stated intention, in the expectation of being able to expose it as a pretence.
2》 (in poker or brag) make an opponent show their hand in order to reveal that its value is weaker than their heavy betting suggests.
Derivatives
bluffer noun
Origin
C17 (in the sense 'blindfold, hoodwink'): from Du. bluffen 'brag', or bluf 'bragging'.
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bluff2
adjective good-naturedly frank and direct.
Derivatives
bluffly adverb
bluffness noun
Origin
C18 (in the sense 'surly'): figurative use of bluff3.
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bluff3
noun
1》 a steep cliff, bank, or promontory.
2》 Canadian a grove or clump of trees.
adjective (of a cliff or a ship's bows) having a vertical or steep broad front.
Origin
C17 (in naut. use): of unknown origin.
English new terms dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
bluff — bluff … Dictionnaire des rimes
bluff n — bluff v … English expressions
bluff — [ blɶf ] n. m. • 1840; mot angl. amér. 1 ♦ Aux cartes, Attitude destinée à impressionner l adversaire en lui faisant illusion. 2 ♦ (1895) Attitude destinée à en faire accroire, à intimider l adversaire sans en avoir les moyens. ⇒ mensonge,… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Bluff — may refer to: * an expression of self confidence, an empty boastGeography* a very steep and broad hill or small cliff, frequently next to a river or ocean;United States places * Bluffs, Illinois, a village * Bluffs, Indiana, an unincorporated… … Wikipedia
Bluff — Bluff, a. [Cf. OD. blaf flat, broad, blaffaert one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G. verbl[ u]ffen to confuse, LG. bluffen to frighten; to unknown origin.] 1. Having a broad, flattened front; as, the bluff bows of a ship. Bluff visages.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bluff — adj Bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, crusty, gruff mean abrupt and unceremonious in speech or manner. Bluff, the only term of the group used in a complimentary sense, connotes outspokenness, rough good nature, and unconventionally which bespeak a… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
bluff — Ⅰ. bluff [1] ► NOUN ▪ an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something. ► VERB ▪ try to deceive someone as to one s abilities or intentions. ● call someone s bluff Cf. ↑call someone s bluff … English terms dictionary
Bluff — Bluff, n. 1. A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face. [1913 Webster] Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu. Whittier. [1913 Webster] 2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self confidence for… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bluff — s.m.inv. 1. TS giochi in alcuni giochi di carte, spec. nel poker, tattica con cui si cerca di indurre gli avversari a ritirarsi dal gioco facendo credere di avere un gioco superiore a quello effettivo 2. CO estens., il far credere qcs. più… … Dizionario italiano
Bluff — [bluf, blœf] Sm Täuschung erw. fremd. Erkennbar fremd (20. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ne. bluff, dessen Herkunft nicht zweifelsfrei geklärt ist. Ausgangspunkt für die Entlehnung ist wohl das Kartenspiel Poker, bei dem der Bluff zur Spielpraxis … Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache
Bluff — Bluff: Bluff общепринятое сокращение (обозначение) имени ботаника, которое добавляется к научным (латинским) названиям некоторых таксонов ботанической (бинарной) номенклатуры и указывает на то, что автором этих наименований является… … Википедия
