Bluffing
/ˈblʌfɪŋ/noun
The act of pretending confidence or strength to deceive someone.
Did you know?The gambling sense of bluff is relatively modern, but the word likely began with a Dutch meaning tied to “broad, flat” and then shifted into the idea of a bold, imposing front—perfect for a lie that looks bigger than it is.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhel-
“to swell, blow, or shine; a root behind several words for breadth and prominence”
Middle Dutch
Dutch
bluffen
“to brag, boast, or make a show of confidence”
17th Century
English
bluff
“a bold or imposing appearance; later, in card games, a deceptive show of strength”
19th Century
English
to bluff
“to mislead an opponent by pretending to have better cards or greater confidence than one really has”
Modern English
English
bluffing
“pretending confidence or strength in order to deceive”