bluff

Plural: bluffs

Noun

• a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
• pretense that your position is stronger than it really is
  • "his bluff succeeded in getting him accepted"
• the act of bluffing in poker; deception by a false show of confidence in the strength of your cards
• An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one’s position in order to intimidate or deceive; braggadocio.
• An attempt to represent oneself as holding a stronger hand than one actually does.
• The card game poker.
• One who bluffs; a bluffer.
• Pretense, excuse.
• A high, steep bank, for example by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face.
• A small wood or stand of trees, typically poplar or willow.

Verb

Verb Forms: bluffed, bluffing, bluffs

• To mislead or deceive, especially in a game.
• deceive an opponent by a bold bet on an inferior hand with the result that the opponent withdraws a winning hand
• frighten someone by pretending to be stronger than one really is
• To make a bluff; to give the impression that one’s hand is stronger than it is.
• To frighten, deter, or deceive with a false show of strength or confidence; to give a false impression of strength or temerity in order to intimidate or gain some advantage.
• To perform or achieve by bluffing.
• To give false information intentionally, to lie (to someone), to deceive; to put on an act.
• To fluff, puff or swell up.

Adjective Satellite

• very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
  • "a bluff headland"
• bluntly direct and outspoken but good-natured
  • "a bluff but pleasant manner"
  • "a bluff and rugged natural leader"

Adj

• Having a broad, flattened front.
• Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front.
• Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.
• Roughly frank and hearty in one's manners.

Adjective

• Having a broad, steep face or front.

Examples

• a bluff answer
• a bluff manner of talking
• a bluff sea captain
• He tried to bluff his opponent into thinking he had no good plays, then dropped a bingo.
• His bluff defense left his opponent no easy openings on the Words With Friends board.
• John bluffed by betting without even a pair.
• John’s bet was a bluff: he bet without even so much as a pair.
• That is only bluff, or That is only a bluff.
• the bluff bows of a ship
• The government claims it will call an election if this bill does not pass. Is it truly ready to do so, or is it bluffing?
• We bluffed our way past the guards.

Synonyms

bluff out, bold, four flush, sheer, abrupt, blunt, brusque, unceremonious

Related Words

BLUFFLY

Anagrams of bluff