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

Ten days later, when the dust had settled, MSF President Joanne Liu called their bluff.

From The Daily Beast

It is not easy work, but it calls the bluff of those who would say “we have to take scripture seriously.”

From The Daily Beast

We end the tour on a bluff overlooking a mine in the distance.

From The Daily Beast

He was bluff, inspirational to the men, a brilliant tactician.

From The Daily Beast

On a bluff overlooking the sea, he pitched a tent and lived there for the next year in near total seclusion.

From The Daily Beast

“Mr. Pickwick, I thank you most heartily for all your kindness to my son,” said old Mr. Winkle, in a bluff straightforward way.

From Project Gutenberg

At the offer of a smaller sum the Count would possibly bluff.

From Project Gutenberg

There is also a conspicuous high bluff on the principal island, which appears to have been seen by the French.

From Project Gutenberg

By and by, a straggling birch bluff rose blackly across their way, but nobody swung wide.

From Project Gutenberg

It is situated in a wonderfully picturesque position, on a rocky bluff overlooking the River Wye.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cliff
• crag
• hill
• promontory
• ridge