bluff (redirected from bluffer)

bluff someone into something

to mislead or deceive someone into doing something. Are you trying to bluff me into giving up without a fight? I won't be bluffed into revealing the whereabouts of the safe.

bluff someone out (of something)

to get something away from someone through deception. We bluffed her out of her share of the pie. I bluffed Liz out of her rightful turn to drive.

See also: out

bluff one's way out (of something)

to get out of a difficult situation by deception or cunning. I will try to bluff my way out of this mess.

See also: out, way

call someone's bluff

to demand that someone prove a claim or is not being deceptive. All right, I'll call your bluff. Show me you can do it! Tom said, "You've made me really angry, and I'll punch you if you come any closer!" "Go ahead," said Bill, calling his bluff.

See also: call

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call somebody's bluff

to make someone prove that what they are saying is true, or to make someone prove that they will really do what they say they will do, because you do not believe them

Usage notes: If you are playing a card game and you call someone's bluff, you force them to show you the cards they have.

Alice called his bluff and dared him to tell everyone what he knew about her.

See also: call

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bluff your way

to deceive others to get what you want Some teens used false IDs to bluff their way into casinos.

Usage notes: usually followed by a phrase starting with through, out of, or into, as in the example

See also: way

call your bluff

to make someone do what they said they will do He said he would help, and now his opponents have called his bluff and asked him to provide the funds.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of calling a bluff in a card game (forcing someone to show the cards they hold)

See also: call