bluff

I 1. noun

this threat was dismissed as a bluff

Syn:

deception, front, subterfuge, pretense, posturing, sham, fake, deceit, feint, hoax, facade, fraud, charade; trick, ruse, scheme, machination; informal put-on

2. verb

1)

they are bluffing to hide their guilt

Syn:

pretend, sham, fake, feign, lie, hoax, pose, posture, masquerade, dissemble

2)

I managed to bluff the board into believing me

Syn:

deceive, delude, mislead, trick, fool, hoodwink, dupe, hoax, beguile, gull; informal con, kid

II adjective

a bluff man

Syn:

plain-spoken, straightforward, blunt, direct, no-nonsense, frank, open, candid, forthright, unequivocal; hearty, genial, good-natured; informal upfront

See note at brusque

III noun

an impregnable high bluff

Syn:

cliff, promontory, ridge, headland, crag, bank, height, peak, escarpment, scarp, overhang; rare eminence