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Monday 1 April 2013

Spot the frippet: bluff.

Welcome to Spot-the-Bluff morning.

The biggest bluff is a sort of cliff. These aren't difficult to spot if you happen to have one about you. Otherwise, I must admit, they're a bit on the impossible side.

To make things even more difficult, a proper bluff  needs to have been formed by some earth being washed away by a river.

Luckily a Canadian bluff is easier. This is a copse, or a clump of trees, and I myself can see one from here. 

If, however, you live in the far north, or a desert, or on a ship, or in the middle of a city, then perhaps you can spot a bluff person. This is someone good-natured, frank, and hearty. They'll probably be quite fat, too, because fat people have fewer wrinkles to betray any sour or shifty thoughts.

Lastly, if all else fails, you can conjure up your own bluff by asking someone to invest in the gold mine you've just discovered at the bottom of your garden.

If you do it before noon, you might just escape a prison sentence for it, too.

Spot the frippet: bluff. The word meaning cliff may come from the Middle Dutch blaf, which means broad. The word meaning trick was originally a poker-playing term from the USA and comes from the Dutch bluffen, to boast.

3 comments:

  1. I'm working my way through 'B' in my dictionary blog right now - 'bluff' just made the list! In fact, would you like to do a guest post? : o D

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    Replies
    1. I've just had a look at Lexicolatry, Ed. It's great fun, and very interesting, too.

      Best of luck with reading the OED from cover to cover.

      And, yes, of course: I'd be honoured to write a post.

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    2. Sally ... urgh ... being a bit rubbish and disorganised, I forgot about this. I've sent you an email : o )

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