Bluff: meaning, definitions and examples

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bluff

 

[ blʌf ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

in poker

An attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something.

Synonyms

deception, pretense, trickery

Examples of usage

  • He was caught in a bluff.
  • The player made a bold bluff.
Context #2 | Verb

in poker

Try to deceive someone as to one's abilities or intentions.

Synonyms

deceive, pretend, trick

Examples of usage

  • He tried to bluff his opponent into folding.
  • She bluffed her way through the game.

Translations

Translations of the word "bluff" in other languages:

🇵🇹 blefe

🇮🇳 धोखा

🇩🇪 Bluff

🇮🇩 tipuan

🇺🇦 блеф

🇵🇱 blef

🇯🇵 ブラフ

🇫🇷 bluff

🇪🇸 engaño

🇹🇷 blöf

🇰🇷 허세

🇸🇦 خداع

🇨🇿 blaf

🇸🇰 blaf

🇨🇳 虚张声势

🇸🇮 blef

🇮🇸 blekking

🇰🇿 алдау

🇬🇪 მოტყუება

🇦🇿 aldatma

🇲🇽 engaño

Etymology

The word 'bluff' originated in the mid-17th century, meaning 'to deter or frighten.' It later evolved to refer to a high cliff or a steep bank. In the context of poker, 'bluff' gained popularity in the 19th century, referring to a player's attempt to deceive opponents. Over time, the term expanded to include general deception or trickery.

See also: bluffing.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,334, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.