blindman's buff: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal
Quick answer
What does “blindman's buff” mean?
A children's game where one player, blindfolded, tries to catch and identify the other players.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A children's game where one player, blindfolded, tries to catch and identify the other players.
Can metaphorically refer to any situation characterized by uncertainty, groping, or seeking without clear guidance or sight.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In modern American English, the game is almost exclusively called 'blind man's bluff'. 'Blindman's buff' is recognized but considered chiefly British or archaic.
Connotations
UK: evokes traditional, pastoral childhood games. US: less familiar; when used, may sound quaint or literary.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK historical and literary contexts; very low in contemporary US everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “blindman's buff” in a Sentence
They played a game of blindman's buff.The party ended with blindman's buff.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for proceeding without crucial information, e.g., 'The market research was so poor, launching the product felt like blindman's buff.'
Academic
Mentioned in historical, literary, or anthropological studies of childhood and games.
Everyday
Rare. Used when describing old-fashioned children's games or metaphorically for clumsy searching.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blindman's buff”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blindman's buff”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blindman's buff”
- Writing as 'blindman's bluff' (common US variant) when aiming for the traditional UK spelling.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They blindman's buffed').
- Omitting the apostrophe.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The 'buff' is likely a reduced form of 'buffet' meaning a blow or push, referring to the light taps or pushes the blindfolded player might receive or give.
It is a traditional game and is less common than modern games, but it is still known and sometimes played at themed parties or in educational settings focusing on historical play.
They refer to the same game. 'Blindman's buff' is the traditional and chiefly British term. 'Blind man's bluff' is the more common modern American term, though 'bluff' is etymologically less accurate.
Yes, it is often used metaphorically to describe any situation where one must act or search without adequate information or guidance, akin to 'groping in the dark'.
A children's game where one player, blindfolded, tries to catch and identify the other players.
Blindman's buff is usually informal in register.
Blindman's buff: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblaɪndmənz ˈbʌf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblaɪndmənz ˈbʌf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was like a game of blindman's buff, trying to find the documents in the dark archive.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BUFFalo are big and you might BUFFet (bump into) people while blindfolded in the game.
Conceptual Metaphor
IGNORANCE IS BLINDNESS / SEEKING WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE IS GROPING IN THE DARK
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of 'blindman's buff'?