bluff
- bluff
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I. adjective
Etymology: obsolete Dutch blaf flat; akin to Middle Low German blaff smooth
Date: 1627
1.
a. having a broad flattened front
b. rising steeply with a broad flat or rounded front
2. good-naturedly frank and outspoken
• bluffly adverb
• bluffness noun
Synonyms:
bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, crusty, gruff mean abrupt and unceremonious in speech and manner. bluff connotes good-natured outspokenness and unconventionality <
a bluff manner
>. blunt suggests directness of expression in disregard of others' feelings <a blunt appraisal
>. brusque applies to a sharpness or ungraciousness <a brusque response
>. curt implies disconcerting shortness or rude conciseness <a curt command
>. crusty suggests a harsh or surly manner sometimes concealing an inner kindliness <a crusty exterior
>. gruff suggests a hoarse or husky speech which may imply bad temper but more often implies embarrassment or shyness <puts on a gruff pose
>.
II. noun
Date: 1666
a high steep bank ; cliff
III. verb
Etymology: probably from Dutch bluffen to boast, play a kind of card game
Date: 1791
transitive verb
1.
a. to deter or frighten by pretense or a mere show of strength
b. deceive
c. feign <the catcher bluffed a throw to first
>
2. to deceive (an opponent) in cards by a bold bet on an inferior hand
intransitive verb
to bluff someone ; act deceptively
• bluffer noun
IV. noun
Date: 1845
1.
a. an act or instance of bluffing
b. the practice of bluffing
2. one who bluffs
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
bluff — bluff … Dictionnaire des rimes
bluff n — bluff v … English expressions
bluff — [ blɶf ] n. m. • 1840; mot angl. amér. 1 ♦ Aux cartes, Attitude destinée à impressionner l adversaire en lui faisant illusion. 2 ♦ (1895) Attitude destinée à en faire accroire, à intimider l adversaire sans en avoir les moyens. ⇒ mensonge,… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Bluff — may refer to: * an expression of self confidence, an empty boastGeography* a very steep and broad hill or small cliff, frequently next to a river or ocean;United States places * Bluffs, Illinois, a village * Bluffs, Indiana, an unincorporated… … Wikipedia
Bluff — Bluff, a. [Cf. OD. blaf flat, broad, blaffaert one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G. verbl[ u]ffen to confuse, LG. bluffen to frighten; to unknown origin.] 1. Having a broad, flattened front; as, the bluff bows of a ship. Bluff visages.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bluff — adj Bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, crusty, gruff mean abrupt and unceremonious in speech or manner. Bluff, the only term of the group used in a complimentary sense, connotes outspokenness, rough good nature, and unconventionally which bespeak a… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
bluff — Ⅰ. bluff [1] ► NOUN ▪ an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something. ► VERB ▪ try to deceive someone as to one s abilities or intentions. ● call someone s bluff Cf. ↑call someone s bluff … English terms dictionary
Bluff — Bluff, n. 1. A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face. [1913 Webster] Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu. Whittier. [1913 Webster] 2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self confidence for… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bluff — s.m.inv. 1. TS giochi in alcuni giochi di carte, spec. nel poker, tattica con cui si cerca di indurre gli avversari a ritirarsi dal gioco facendo credere di avere un gioco superiore a quello effettivo 2. CO estens., il far credere qcs. più… … Dizionario italiano
Bluff — [bluf, blœf] Sm Täuschung erw. fremd. Erkennbar fremd (20. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ne. bluff, dessen Herkunft nicht zweifelsfrei geklärt ist. Ausgangspunkt für die Entlehnung ist wohl das Kartenspiel Poker, bei dem der Bluff zur Spielpraxis … Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache
Bluff — Bluff: Bluff общепринятое сокращение (обозначение) имени ботаника, которое добавляется к научным (латинским) названиям некоторых таксонов ботанической (бинарной) номенклатуры и указывает на то, что автором этих наименований является… … Википедия
