bluff 1
— bluffly , adv. — bluffness , n.
/bluf/ , adj., bluffer, bluffest , n.
adj.
1. good-naturedly direct, blunt, or frank; heartily outspoken: a big, bluff, generous man.
2. presenting a bold and nearly perpendicular front, as a coastline: a bluff, precipitous headland.
3. Naut. (of the bow of a vessel) having a full, blunt form.
n.
4. a cliff, headland, or hill with a broad, steep face.
5. North Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Canadian Prairie Provinces. a clump or grove of trees on a prairie or other generally treeless area.
[ 1620-30; perh. blaff smooth, even, or blaf broad, flat ]
Syn. 1. forthright, open, honest; rough, crude. See blunt. 2. abrupt, steep.
Ant. 1. subtle.
bluff 2
— bluffable , adj. — bluffer , n.
/bluf/ , v.t.
1. to mislead by a display of strength, self-confidence, or the like: He bluffed me into believing that he was a doctor.
2. to gain by bluffing: He bluffed his way into the job.
3. Poker. to deceive by a show of confidence in the strength of one's cards.
v.i.
4. to mislead someone by presenting a bold, strong, or self-confident front: That open face makes it impossible for him to bluff.
n.
5. an act or instance or the practice of bluffing: Her pathetic story was all a bluff to get money from us. His assertive manner is mostly bluff.
6. a person who bluffs; bluffer: That big bluff doesn't have a nickel to his name.
7. call someone's bluff , to expose a person's deception; challenge someone to carry out a threat: He always said he would quit, so we finally called his bluff.
[ 1665-75; perh. bluffen to bluster, frighten; akin to MD bluffen to make a trick at cards ]
Syn. 1. deceive, fool, dupe, delude, hoodwink.