call someone's bluff: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  English (worldwide)neutralinformal
  • To challenge a person to prove that a threat, claim, or assertion is genuine, thereby testing whether they are bluffing.
  • To force someone to follow through on a stated intention or threat in order to reveal whether it was fraudulent or exaggerated.

  Examples

  Beta

  • When John threatened to quit if he didn’t get a raise, his boss decided to call his bluff and asked him to submit a resignation letter.

    When John threatened to quit if he didn’t get a raise, his boss decided to call his bluff and asked him to submit a resignation letter.

  • I wasn’t sure if she was serious about leaving, so I called her bluff during the negotiation meeting.

    I wasn’t sure if she was serious about leaving, so I called her bluff during the negotiation meeting.

  • They tried to scare us with threats, but we called their bluff and continued with the project.

    They tried to scare us with threats, but we called their bluff and continued with the project.

• 2.

  English (worldwide)neutralspecialized
  • In card games or gambling, to expose and confront an opponent who is pretending to have a stronger hand, inducing them to show their cards or fold.

  Examples

  Beta

  • During the poker game, Lisa called Mark’s bluff and won the pot when he folded his cards.

    During the poker game, Lisa called Mark’s bluff and won the pot when he folded his cards.

  • He called his opponent’s bluff in the final round, forcing him to reveal a weak hand.

    He called his opponent’s bluff in the final round, forcing him to reveal a weak hand.

  • If you think he’s bluffing, just call his bluff and see what cards he shows.

    If you think he’s bluffing, just call his bluff and see what cards he shows.

  • They called her bluff during the tournament and caught her trying to deceive the other players.

    They called her bluff during the tournament and caught her trying to deceive the other players.