BLUFF Meaning and
Definition
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Bluff can be used as both a noun and a verb, and it refers to deceiving, misleading, or intimidating someone in order to gain an advantage or achieve a desired outcome. As a noun, a bluff is an act of deception or intimidation aimed at confusing or misleading others into thinking that one's intentions or capabilities are different from what they truly are. It often involves an expression or behavior that hides one's true thoughts, feelings, or weaknesses.
As a verb, to bluff means to engage in the act of deception or intimidation to mislead or trick others. This can be done through an outward display of confidence, assertiveness, or aggression, often aimed at convincing others of one's strength or competence in a given situation. Bluffing can be employed in various contexts, including games, negotiations, or even social interactions, where one may exaggerate their abilities or intentions to gain an advantage over others.
Bluffing is typically used as a strategic maneuver, intended to manipulate the perception or expectations of others, ultimately influencing the actions or decisions they make. However, bluffing can be a risky strategy, as it relies on the premise that the deception will not be uncovered or seen through by others. If one's bluff is called or exposed, it can lead to loss of credibility, trust, or even negative consequences.
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• A high steep bank generally facing the sea or a river; an abrupt manner.
• Abruptly rising as a shore; big; vainglorious; swaggering; blustering.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for BLUFF *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for BLUFF
Etymology of BLUFF
The word "bluff" originated in the early 19th century and its etymology is uncertain. However, there are a few theories about its origins:
1. Dutch: One theory suggests that "bluff" comes from the Dutch word "blaf", meaning "flat" or "broad". It is believed that Dutch settlers in North America might have used this term to describe the broad, steep cliffs along the Mississippi River.
2. French: Another theory proposes that "bluff" is derived from the French word "bluffer", which means "to deceive" or "to bluff". This could be related to the idea of using bluffs or bluffs in a game of poker to deceive opponents.
3. German: Some argue that "bluff" comes from the German term "verblüffen", meaning "to bewilder" or "perplex".
Idioms with the word BLUFF
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call sb's bluff
The idiom "call sb's bluff" refers to the act of challenging or daring someone to prove the truth of their claims or intentions, especially when they may be bluffing or making empty threats. It involves challenging the person to provide evidence or take action that demonstrates their true intentions or ability to follow through on their words.
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call your bluff
The idiom "call your bluff" means to challenge someone's bluff or false claim by daring them to prove or follow through with what they are asserting. It typically implies that the speaker is skeptical or doubts the truth or validity of the other person's statement or threat.
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bluff your way
The idiom "bluff your way" refers to deliberately trying to deceive or mislead others by acting confidently or making false claims, usually in order to gain an advantage or achieve a particular outcome, without actually possessing the necessary knowledge, skills, or resources.
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call sm's bluff
The idiom "call someone's bluff" means to challenge or confront someone's bluff or pretense in order to expose their true intentions or test their resolve. It implies not being afraid or intimidated by someone's threats or claims, and daring them to follow through on their stated plans or promises.
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bluff one's way out (of sth)
The idiom "bluff one's way out (of sth)" refers to the act of deceiving or tricking others into believing something in order to escape a difficult or undesirable situation. It involves using clever and persuasive tactics to navigate through challenging circumstances and avoid the consequences or responsibilities that would normally arise.
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bluff sm out (of sth)
The idiom "bluff someone out (of something)" typically means to intimidate, deceive, or trick someone in order to gain an advantage or force them out of a particular situation, position, or resource. It involves using bold and confident behavior or statements to persuade or manipulate someone into submission or retreat.
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bluff sm into sth
The idiom "bluff someone into something" means to deceive or persuade someone through deception or false appearances in order to make them believe or engage in something. It often involves using confident or bravado behavior to convince someone into a particular action, decision, or belief.
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call bluff
The idiom "call bluff" refers to the act of challenging or questioning someone's actions or statements in order to determine if they are bluffing or telling the truth. It involves daring the person to prove their claims or abilities, often by revealing their true intentions or capabilities.
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bluff way out
The idiom "bluff way out" refers to the act of confidently and persuasively trying to convince others of something, usually by misleading or deceptive means, in order to escape a difficult or challenging situation. It involves using a combination of wit, confidence, rhetoric, or manipulation to make oneself appear more capable or knowledgeable than one truly is.
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bluff it out
The idiom "bluff it out" means to pretend confidence or bravado in a situation in which one may feel uncertain, scared, or lacking knowledge. It involves putting up a front or acting as if one knows what they are doing or saying, even if they do not.
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call somebody’s bluff
The idiom "call somebody's bluff" means to challenge or confront someone who is making a threat or claim in order to determine if they are truly willing to follow through or if they are bluffing. It involves questioning someone's credibility or sincerity in order to test their intentions or actions.
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call (one's) bluff
The idiom "call (one's) bluff" means to challenge or confront someone's statement or claim, typically by expressing doubt or skepticism and daring the person to prove that they are telling the truth or willing to follow through with their actions. It involves not believing or being uncertain about someone's intentions or threats and demanding evidence or proof of their assertions.
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call somebody's bluff
The idiom "call somebody's bluff" means to challenge or question someone's statement, action, or threat in order to determine if they are bluffing or not. It refers to demanding proof or evidence of the validity of their claim or intention.
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call someone's bluff
The idiom "call someone's bluff" means to challenge or confront someone's assertion or bluff in order to test their intentions or the truth of their claim. It involves daring or provoking them to prove or follow through with what they claim or threaten.
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bluff (someone) into (something)
The idiom "bluff (someone) into (something)" means to deceive or trick someone into believing or doing something by using a confident or assertive manner, often with the intention of gaining an advantage or manipulating a situation.
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bluff (someone) out of (something)
The idiom "bluff (someone) out of (something)" means to deceive or intimidate someone in order to gain control or possession of something. It involves using tactics such as false threats, bravado, or intimidation to force someone to relinquish or concede something they possess or have a claim to.
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bluff (one's) way into (something)
The idiom "bluff one's way into (something)" means to deceive or trick someone into allowing you into a particular situation or gaining entry to a place, typically by using confidence, persuasion, or pretending to possess knowledge or qualifications that you do not actually have. It involves successfully convincing someone through confidence and fake expertise, often in order to achieve a desired outcome or to gain an advantage.
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bluff (one's) way out of (something)
The idiom "bluff one's way out of (something)" means to use deception, confidence, or bravado to successfully deceive or convince others in order to escape a difficult or challenging situation. It involves convincing others through assertiveness or false information rather than relying on the actual truth or abilities.
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bluff (one's) way
The idiom "bluff (one's) way" means to deceive or mislead others by acting confidently or convincingly, often when one lacks knowledge, skills, or resources. It involves pretending to know or have more than one actually does to achieve a desired outcome or to gain an advantage in a situation.
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bluff (one's) way through (something)
The idiom "bluff one's way through (something)" means to successfully navigate or accomplish a task by using confidence, deception, or skillful persuasion, even when lacking the necessary knowledge, qualifications, or abilities required for the situation. It involves pretending to be more confident or knowledgeable than one actually is in order to convincingly tackle a difficult or unfamiliar situation.
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you can't bluff a bluffer
The idiom "you can't bluff a bluffer" means that it is difficult or nearly impossible to deceive or trick someone who is highly skilled or experienced in deception themselves. It implies that attempting to bluff or deceive someone who is already adept at bluffing or deceitful techniques is unlikely to succeed as they are highly astute and can easily recognize and counter any attempt to deceive them.
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bluff way
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bluff into
To deceive or mislead someone into believing something that is not true; to trick or fool someone into accepting a false premise or idea.
Similar spelling words for BLUFF
Conjugate verb Bluff
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have bluffed
you
would have bluffed
he/she/it
would have bluffed
we
would have bluffed
they
would have bluffed
I
would have bluff
you
would have bluff
he/she/it
would have bluff
we
would have bluff
they
would have bluff
CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
I
would have been bluffing
you
would have been bluffing
he/she/it
would have been bluffing
we
would have been bluffing
they
would have been bluffing
CONDITIONAL PRESENT
I
would bluff
you
would bluff
he/she/it
would bluff
we
would bluff
they
would bluff
CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
I
would be bluffing
you
would be bluffing
he/she/it
would be bluffing
we
would be bluffing
they
would be bluffing
FUTURE
I
will bluff
you
will bluff
he/she/it
will bluff
we
will bluff
they
will bluff
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be bluffing
you
will be bluffing
he/she/it
will be bluffing
we
will be bluffing
they
will be bluffing
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have bluffed
you
will have bluffed
he/she/it
will have bluffed
we
will have bluffed
they
will have bluffed
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been bluffing
you
will have been bluffing
he/she/it
will have been bluffing
we
will have been bluffing
they
will have been bluffing
IMPERATIVE
we
Let's bluff
you
bluff
we
let´s bluff
to bluff
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was bluffing
you
were bluffing
he/she/it
was bluffing
we
were bluffing
they
were bluffing
PAST PARTICIPLE
bluffed
PAST PERFECT
I
had bluffed
you
had bluffed
he/she/it
had bluffed
we
had bluffed
they
had bluffed
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been bluffing
you
had been bluffing
he/she/it
had been bluffing
we
had been bluffing
they
had been bluffing
PRESENT
I
bluff
you
bluff
he/she/it
bluffs
we
bluff
they
bluff
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am bluffing
you
are bluffing
he/she/it
is bluffing
we
are bluffing
they
are bluffing
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
bluffing
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have bluffed
you
have bluffed
he/she/it
has bluffed
we
have bluffed
they
have bluffed
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been bluffing
you
have been bluffing
he/she/it
has been bluffing
we
have been bluffing
they
have been bluffing
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
he/she/it
bluff
SIMPLE PAST
I
bluffed
you
bluffed
he/she/it
bluffed
we
bluffed
they
bluffed
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