blindl-man's-buff

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A game: "blindman's buff" is a children's game in which one player is blindfolded and tries to catch the other players, who may tease or dodge them, often while making sounds to confuse the blindfolded player.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The children played blindman's buff in the garden, laughing as the blindfolded boy stumbled after them. (A game of chasing with a blindfold.)
  • Blindman's buff is a traditional party game that requires no special equipment. (A simple, classic game.)

Advanced Usage

• "to play blindman's buff": to engage in the game itself.

  • We used to play blindman's buff at birthday parties when I was young. (Participate in the game.)

• Figurative use: "blindman's buff" can metaphorically describe a situation where someone is groping or acting without clear sight or understanding.

  • The negotiation felt like a game of blindman's buff, with both sides uncertain of each other's intentions. (A confusing, uncertain situation.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blindman's buff (n): the standard spelling; sometimes written as "blind man's buff" or "blindman's bluff" (though "bluff" is a common misspelling).
  • The rules of blindman's buff are simple: one player is blindfolded and tries to catch the others. (The game.)

Synonyms

• Blindfold game: a game where one player is blindfolded.
• Tag with a blindfold: a variation of tag involving a blindfold.

Related Idioms

• "Blind as a bat": unable to see well (not directly related but often associated with the blindfolded player's lack of sight).
  • Without his glasses, he was blind as a bat during the game. (Unable to see clearly.)

Notes on Spelling

• The word is sometimes misspelled as "blindman's bluff" due to phonetic confusion, but the correct term is "blindman's buff," where "buff" refers to a light blow or push (a historical term for a gentle slap or strike, referencing the teasing nature of the game).