Bluffers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who deceives or misrepresents themselves to seem more impressive or knowledgeable than they actually are
2. Individuals who engage in false pretenses or exaggerations to create a favorable impression in social situations
3. Those who rely on trickery or cunning to mislead others about their abilities or intentions

Etymology: "Bluffers" is the plural of "bluffer," an agent noun formed from the verb "bluff," with the suffix "-er" added to name someone who does the bluffing. The "-er" ending is a common English agent suffix, so the word itself is a transparent formation. The verb "bluff" is the more interesting part. It entered English in the 1600s, and its early sense was "to frighten" or "to make a show of boldness," borrowed from the Dutch "bluffen," which meant to deceive or bluster. The original Dutch-related idea was of a loud, confident display meant to overawe an opponent, so the sense of pretending strength you do not have grew naturally out of that. Card games popularized the term in the 1800s, when bluffing in poker became a recognized tactic, and the card-table sense is what most people now associate with it.