bluff

views updated Jun 08 2018

bluff1 / bləf/ • n. an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something: the offer was denounced as a bluff.• v. [intr.] try to deceive someone as to one's abilities or intentions: he's been bluffing all along. ∎  (in a card game) bet heavily on a weak hand in order to deceive opponents. ∎  (bluff one's way) contrive a difficult escape or other achievement by maintaining a pretense: he bluffed his way onto an Antarctic supply vessel.PHRASES: call someone's bluff challenge someone thought to be bluffing.DERIVATIVES: bluff·er n.bluff2 • adj. direct in speech or behavior but in a good-natured way: a big, bluff, hearty man.DERIVATIVES: bluff·ly adv.bluff·ness n.bluff3 • n. a steep cliff, bank, or promontory. • adj. (of a cliff or a ship's bow) having a vertical or steep broad front.

bluff

views updated May 14 2018

bluff1 nearly vertical or perpendicular XVII; rough, blunt XVIII; good-naturedly curt or abrupt XIX. orig. naut., perh. of LG. orig. As sb. broad precipitous headland XVII (first in N. America).

bluff

views updated May 29 2018

bluff2 (orig. U.S. in poker) give a false impression of strength. etc.; also sb. XIX. — Du. bluffen brag, boast, and bluff bragging, boasting.