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Call Someone's Bluff

What Does "Call Someone's Bluff" Mean?

homeidiomsCall Someone's Bluff
"Call someone's bluff" is an English idiom. It means "to challenge someone to act on their threat or claim."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "call someone's bluff" used in a sentence:
  • I knew he was lying, so I called his bluff.
  • She said she would quit, and when they called her bluff, she actually did.
  • They said they'd increase the prices, but we called their bluff.
meaning for call someone's bluff

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Call Someone's Bluff" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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