bluff

Bluff is a term with several related meanings across geography, deception, and gaming. In geography, a bluff is a broad, steep bank or cliff that rises above a river, lake, or coastline. Bluffs are formed by the action of erosion on softer materials and are common along valleys and shores. They often have a flat or gently sloping top and a near-vertical face.

As a verb, to bluff means to mislead others about one’s true intentions, strength, or resources by presenting a confident front or pretending to have better prospects than actually exist. A bluff is typically intended to influence the actions of others, sometimes without any actual advantage.

In games, particularly in poker and other card games, bluffing is a deliberate tactic to persuade opponents that one’s hand is stronger (or sometimes weaker) than it really is. A bluff can be pure (no value cards) or semi-bluff (with the potential to improve). The effectiveness of bluffing depends on factors such as timing, game context, and the bluffer’s perceived credibility.

In everyday language, bluffing appears in phrases like “bluff your way through” a task or “call a bluff,” which means challenging someone to prove their claim or threat. The term thus spans physical geography, strategic deception, and cultural usage, connected by the core idea of presenting a false appearance to influence others.