call someone's bluff
Challenge hollow threat
To call someone's bluff is to challenge them to follow through on a threat or claim you suspect is empty.
From poker, where calling forces a bluffing player to reveal a weak hand.
He threatened to quit, so she called his bluff and accepted his resignation.
The phrase implies confidence that the other person is posturing rather than serious.
- lieDeliberate falsehood
- handGrasping body part
- high stakesSignificant potential for loss
- exposeMake known publicly
- pokerHearth implement for coals
tell · confront · dare · put up or shut up · challenge · test · verify · call into question · reveal · raise · all in · deceit · credibility · showdown · truth · moment of truth · stare · see through
call someone's blufffall for it
take the bait · buy it · accept at face value · play along · look the other way
call someone's bluffback down
Withdraw from a stance
fold · cave in · capitulate · give in · chicken out
calls, called, calling, caller, callers, someone, bluff, bluffs, bluffed