Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [bluhf]
- /blʌf/
- /blʌf/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [bluhf]
- /blʌf/
Definitions of bluff word
- variable noun bluff A bluff is an attempt to make someone believe that you will do something when you do not really intend to do it. 3
- verb bluff If you bluff, you make someone believe that you will do something when you do not really intend to do it, or that you know something when you do not really know it. 3
- countable noun bluff A bluff is a steep cliff or bank, especially by a river or the sea. 3
- graded adjective bluff If you describe someone, usually a man, as bluff, you mean that they have a very direct way of speaking and behaving. 3
- verb bluff to pretend to be confident about an uncertain issue or to have undisclosed resources, in order to influence or deter (someone) 3
- noun bluff deliberate deception intended to create the impression of a stronger position or greater resources than one actually has 3
Information block about the term
Origin of bluff
First appearance:
before 1620 One of the 42% oldest English words
1620-30; perhaps < Middle Low German blaff smooth, even, or < Middle Dutch blaf broad, flat
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Bluff
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
bluff popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
bluff usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for bluff
verb bluff
- pretend — to cause or attempt to cause (what is not so) to seem so: to pretend illness; to pretend that nothing is wrong.
- delude — If you delude yourself, you let yourself believe that something is true, even though it is not true.
- fool — to trick, deceive, or impose on: They tried to fool him.
- lie — Jonas, 1880–1940, U.S. painter, born in Norway.
- humbug — something intended to delude or deceive.
Antonyms for bluff
verb bluff
- protect — to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance, insult, etc.; cover or shield from injury or danger.
- come clean — to make a revelation or confession
- support — to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for.
- reveal — to make known; disclose; divulge: to reveal a secret.
Top questions with bluff
- what does bluff mean?
- what is a bluff?
- what is bluff?
- where is the bluff?
- how to bluff in poker?
- where was snow on tha bluff filmed?
- where is the bluff in atlanta?