call (one's) bluff
1. To challenge someone to act on their threat or prove that their claim or boast is true, when one believes they are making a false claim or idle threat (i.e. bluffing). He insisted that he could run faster than me, but when I called his bluff, he suddenly said he had to go home. He's a much better poker player than I thought, and I lost a lot of money calling his bluff. Fine, I'll call your bluff. If you can really make 10 baskets in a row, I'll give you $20.
2. To disprove a bluff. Whereas the first usage simply indicates a challenge, this usage indicates that the challenge resulted in the disproval. I don't know why he keeps making these outrageous claims. I've been calling his bluff for years and making him look like a fool. You have to call your kids' bluff every once in awhile. The moderator finally called the candidate's bluff, and that's how we found out her allegations were false.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.