bluff

noun BLOOF Rare

Origin: English 'bluff', origin disputed.

Also means

deception

Usage Note

Bluff is an invariable masculine loanword (il bluff, i bluff). It entered Italian through poker but is widely used figuratively: era solo un bluff (it was just a bluff — an empty threat). The verb form bluffare is also common. The 'ff' is pronounced as a single Italian 'f'.

Examples

"La sua minaccia era solo un bluff."

Natural Translation

His threat was just a bluff.

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