bluff
bluff — verb
1. to trick a person by acting as if you have more power, knowledge, or authority t
to trick a person by acting as if you have more power, knowledge, or authority than you really have.
Ravi bluffed the guard by flashing an old staff card at the gate.
bluff + person + by + -ing
With a steady voice, Leila bluffed the other team into backing away.
bluff + person + into + -ing
The boys tried to bluff their teacher with a story about a broken bus.
Quinn bluffed the landlord by saying the money transfer had already gone through.
At midnight, Zara bluffed the night clerk by claiming to be a police officer.
- trick
broad everyday word for making someone believe something false
- deceive
more formal and wider in meaning; not limited to a bold show of confidence
- intimidate
focuses on fear rather than on the false show itself
文法句型
bluff + person
bluff + person + into + -ing
bluff + person + by + -ing
用法筆記
Often used when the speaker pretends to have power, special knowledge, or official status. Common patterns are 'bluff someone' and 'bluff someone into doing something'; distinguish from verb/2, which focuses on gaining entry or escape.
常見錯誤
2. to get into a place, past a barrier, or out of trouble by speaking with enough f
to get into a place, past a barrier, or out of trouble by speaking with enough false confidence that people let you through.
Hana bluffed her way into the concert by carrying a box of cables.
fixed pattern: bluff your way into
After losing his pass, Yusuf bluffed his way past the front desk.
fixed pattern: bluff your way past
The tourist almost bluffed his way out of the parking fine with a fake smile.
By sunset, the salesman had bluffed his way onto the ship without a ticket.
Even smiling, Ines could not bluff her way past the second ticket check.
- talk your way out of
informal; focuses on persuasive speech rather than a bold false show
- fake it
informal; can mean pretending to have ability, not only gaining access
- wing it
informal; often means managing without preparation, not necessarily by lying
文法句型
bluff your way into + place
bluff your way out of + situation
bluff your way past + person / check
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the pattern 'bluff your way into/out of/past ...'. Distinguish from verb/1: both senses involve lying, but this one stresses the result of getting access or escaping a problem.
常見錯誤
bluff — noun
1. a false move, claim, or threat used to make others believe you are in a stronger
a false move, claim, or threat used to make others believe you are in a stronger position than you really are.
Everyone believed Omar's bluff about having the mayor's phone number.
The union leader called the factory owner's bluff and kept the workers outside.
idiomatic collocation: call someone's bluff
At first the loud threat sounded scary, but it was only a bluff.
Priya smiled, guessing that the raised price was a bluff.
The police saw through the kidnapper's bluff and refused to pay.
- pretense
more general; can be any false appearance, not only a bold threat
- deception
broader and more formal
- empty threat
focuses on frightening someone without real intention to act
文法句型
call someone's bluff
it was a bluff
用法筆記
Very common in the phrase 'call someone's bluff', meaning to refuse to be frightened by the false show. Often refers to a threat, price, or claim that sounds strong but has no real support behind it.
常見錯誤
2. a high, steep edge of land, often above water or open ground.
a high, steep edge of land, often above water or open ground.
Goats stood on the bluff above the brown river at sunset.
bluff above + river
A narrow path ran along the bluff behind the old lighthouse.
From the sandy bluff, Bao could see fishing boats near shore.
Wild flowers covered the bluff after the heavy spring rain.
The children flew kites from a grassy bluff over the lake.
文法句型
a bluff above + river / sea / lake
on the bluff
用法筆記
Mostly used in North American place descriptions for land above water or open ground. In everyday British English, 'cliff' is often the more common everyday word.
bluff — adjective
1. speaking in a very plain way, sometimes so plainly that it sounds rough rather t
speaking in a very plain way, sometimes so plainly that it sounds rough rather than polite.
The new coach was bluff about our weak defence, but nobody felt hurt.
be bluff about + noun
Greta sounded bluff when she told the baker that the cake looked dry.
sound bluff + when-clause
Uncle Farouk gave a bluff answer when I asked about the delay.
Though bluff with strangers, Dr. Okafor was gentle with frightened children.
The shop owner sounded bluff, yet she packed an extra loaf for me.
文法句型
be bluff about + noun
a bluff answer / note / manner
用法筆記
Describes a person's manner or words, not the truth of a statement. It often suggests rough kindness rather than deliberate cruelty.