Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
❓ To confuse ❓ A mystery 🫲 A soft hit 🫲 To hit softly
to baff

to baff

9.9
To hit something lightly or confuse someone
  • verb
  • /bæf/
  • UK
translation icon : desconcertar
  • The teacher's riddle seemed to baff even the brightest students in the class.

Examples

  • Please don't baff me with your confusing explanations.

  • In the old poem, the knight would baff his shield with a gentle touch.

  • He tried to baff the dust from the table with a soft cloth.

  • He baffed the door gently to get my attention.

  • He tried to baff the dust off the bookshelf with a soft cloth.

  • The unexpected question from the student did not baff the experienced teacher.

  • She gently baffed the balloon to see if it would float.

Synonyms

to throw
vsto baff
321 7.8

To make someone feel confused or unsure

tends to mean blocking efforts or a soft hit rather than emotional upset
to frustrate
vsto baff
137 3.0

Make someone feel annoyed because they cannot do something

often focuses on blocking plans rather than just causing upset
to baffle
vsto baff
3 6.1

To stop someone's plans or efforts from succeeding

also includes giving a soft light hit as well as causing confusion
to gravel
vsto baff
  • Archaic
9.9

To annoy or puzzle someone

focuses more on blocking efforts or giving a soft hit

Antonyms

to clarify
248 3.3

To make something clear so others can understand it

How Hard

to punch
455 1.4
to slap
492 1.0
to baff
  • UK
9.9
to tap
174 1.0
pat
∞ 1.0
to touch
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

baff infinitive
baffed past
baffed past participle
baffing present participle
baffs third person singular

Etymology

Baff as a verb is the same idea as the other form: think of buff meaning 'a light hit' and baffle meaning 'to confuse', so to baff is to strike softly or to puzzle someone. So the verb baff can mean a gentle hit or to frustrate understanding.