I. bluff 1 /blʌf/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: Probably from Dutch bluffen 'to boast, play a kind of card game' ]
to pretend something, especially in order to achieve what you want in a difficult or dangerous situation:
You wouldn’t really tell her. You’re bluffing!
bluff your way out of/through/past etc somebody/something (=go somewhere or succeed in doing something by deceiving someone)
I hope we’ll be able to bluff our way past the guard.
‘I was with Don,’ she said, deciding to bluff it out (=continue to pretend something) .
bluff somebody into (doing) something (=make someone do something by deceiving them)
II. bluff 2 BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1-2: Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ bluff 1 ]
[ Sense 3: Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: ⇨ ↑ bluff 3 ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] an attempt to deceive someone by making them think you will do something, when you do not intend to do it:
The threat was only a bluff.
Whatever you say, you must do it. This isn’t a game of bluff.
⇨ ↑ double bluff
2 . call sb’s bluff to tell someone to do what they have threatened because you do not believe that they will really do it
3 . [countable] a very steep cliff or slope
III. bluff 3 BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: Early Dutch blaf 'flat' ]
a bluff person, usually a man, is pleasant but very direct and does not always consider other people:
He was a bluff no-nonsense administrator.