call someone's bluff
Meaning: To challenge someone to carry out a threat or prove the truth of a statement.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: This idiom is based on the literal meaning of this phrase as used in card games such as poker. A player who is bluffing may pretend to have a winning hand when in fact he or she does not. To call one's bluff in poker is to challenge one to show his or her cards.
More idioms — Daily Life
- call a spade a spade — To speak plainly or call something by its right name, even if it is unpleasant.
- call the shots — To be in control or to give orders.
- open a can of worms — A situation that contains many unexpected and unwanted problems and consequences.
- carry a torch for someone — To be in love with someone, usually someone who does not love in return.
- carry the ball — To take on work or responsibility in order to keep a project moving forward.
- catch someone red-handed — To catch someone in the act of committing some offense.
More English idioms
- cast pearls before swine — To offer something to someone who cannot appreciate it.
- catch someone's fancy — To appeal to someone.
- change horses in midstream — To change plans or leaders in the middle of some action or event.
- lead a charmed life — To be lucky or avoid danger.
- checkered past — A personal history that includes both successes and failures, or ethical and unethical be…
- a chip off the old block — Very much like one's parent(s).
Loading the full interactive collection…