call someone's bluff

bluff

C c

Definitions of call someone's bluff words

noun call someone's bluff to challenge someone to give proof of his claims 3
verb with object call someone's bluff to mislead by a display of strength, self-confidence, or the like: He bluffed me into believing that he was a doctor. 1
verb with object call someone's bluff to gain by bluffing: He bluffed his way into the job. 1
verb with object call someone's bluff Poker. to deceive by a show of confidence in the strength of one's cards. 1
verb without object call someone's bluff to mislead someone by presenting a bold, strong, or self-confident front: That open face makes it impossible for him to bluff. 1
noun call someone's bluff 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. 1

before 1665

One of the 47% oldest English words

1665-75; perhaps < Low German bluffen to bluster, frighten; akin to Middle Dutch bluffen to make a trick at cards

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% 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".

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