whose bluff is to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whose bluff is to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to someone whose deception or trickery is aimed at achieving a specific goal, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "He is a master at poker, whose bluff is to make his opponents believe he has a stronger hand than he actually does."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is an Iago marinated in scorn, a man whose bluff is to be bluff.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Those whose bluff was called usually lost the fight because of their weaker claw.

Science Magazine

As it has turned out, Mr Obama now looks like a man whose bluff has been called.

The Economist

Agents, whose activities are to be "transparent".

The Guardian - Sport

When the Republican Party's image went south in 1995, George Stephanopoulos likened Gingrich to a poker player whose masterly bluffs were finally starting to fail: "Newt's very good.

The New York Times - Books

To believe less is to make yourself vulnerable to bluffing.

The New Yorker

So whose idea was it to improvise?

The New York Times

Hanks defies both his American handlers and the Soviet tricksters he faces, and he emerges as a man whose bravery is equaled only by his ability to bet and bluff.

Huffington Post

Relationship to person whose record is requested.

WikiHow

Lots of high school kids have bluffed their way through Tolstoy, whose masterpiece is daunting but not insurmountable, and polishing off Austen is a snap because Austen is sassy and mean, and only one of her novels is more than 400 pages long.

The New York Times - Books

In fact it's a bluff and he lays it back to the edge of the box for Lampard, whose shot is blocked.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing deceptive strategies, use clearer and more direct phrasing such as "whose intention is to deceive" or "whose goal is to mislead" instead of the ambiguous phrase "whose bluff is to".

Common error

Avoid using "whose bluff is to" when you actually mean to describe the purpose or intent behind a deceptive action. Instead, focus on clearly stating the goal of the deception.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose bluff is to" functions as a relative clause attempting to specify the purpose behind someone's act of bluffing. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the construction is awkward and unclear, making it grammatically dubious.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "whose bluff is to" attempts to describe the purpose behind a deceptive action, it's grammatically awkward and unclear. Ludwig AI indicates that the construction is not correct and suggests using clearer alternatives like "whose intention is to deceive" or "whose aim is to mislead". The phrase's rare occurrence and lack of consistent usage further support the recommendation to avoid it in favor of more direct and conventional phrasing. While it may appear in news articles, its ambiguity makes it less suitable for formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whose purpose is to bluff

Clarifies that the bluffing serves a specific purpose.

whose intent involves bluffing

Specifies that bluffing is part of the overall intent.

whose intention is to deceive

Emphasizes the intent to deceive rather than the specific act of bluffing.

whose aim is to mislead

Focuses on the goal of misleading, a broader term than bluffing.

whose game is to deceive

Uses "game" as a metaphor for deception strategy.

whose pretense is to

Highlights the element of pretending or feigning.

whose deceit is aimed at

Specifies that the deceit is directed towards a particular goal.

whose deception serves to

Highlights the functional aspect of the deception.

whose trickery aims to

Emphasizes the use of tricks and cunning.

whose ruse has the goal of

Uses "ruse" to describe a plan intended to deceive.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "whose bluff is to" for clarity?

Consider using alternatives like "whose intention is to deceive", "whose aim is to mislead", or "whose purpose is to bluff" to express the intended meaning more directly.

What's a more grammatically sound way to express the idea behind "whose bluff is to"?

Instead of "whose bluff is to", try constructing your sentence with phrases like "whose aim is to" or "whose intent involves bluffing", which are more grammatically conventional.

In what contexts might I want to avoid using "whose bluff is to"?

It's best to avoid "whose bluff is to" in formal writing or situations where clarity is paramount, as the phrasing can be ambiguous. Use alternatives like "whose purpose is to" or "whose intention is to deceive" instead.

Is there a difference between "whose bluff is to" and "whose goal is to"?

"Whose goal is to" is a more general phrase that describes an objective, whereas "whose bluff is to" implies that the objective is achieved through deception. "Whose goal is to" is a clearer and more versatile option.