bluff
b luhf
- n a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
- n pretense that your position is stronger than it really is
his bluff succeeded in getting him accepted - n the act of bluffing in poker; deception by a false show of confidence in the strength of your cards
- v deceive an opponent by a bold bet on an inferior hand with the result that the opponent withdraws a winning hand
- v frighten someone by pretending to be stronger than one really is
- s very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
a bluff headland - s bluntly direct and outspoken but good-natured
a bluff but pleasant manner
a bluff and rugged natural leader
- His noisy agitation to get Corsica and Tunis from France was rated as a weak bluff whose immediate objectives were no more than cheaper tolls for Italian ships in the Suez .
- The best way to prevent her from calling his bluff is in fact not to bluff--to be the kind of hothead who is crazy enough to do it.
- North Korea's announcement of the successful underground detonation of a nuclear weapon has called Washington's bluff.