four-flush

9.9

An act that pretends to have money or success to impress others

noun
/ˈfɔrˌflʌʃ/

Offensive

: farsante

Her big talk about winning the contract turned out to be just a four-flush.

Examples

Everyone knew Tom was a four-flush and didn't really own that fancy car.
Don't believe his claims; he's a total four-flush!
The poker table was full of four-flushes trying to bluff their way to victory.
That businessman is just a four-flush who exaggerates his wealth.
Everyone knew Tom was a four-flush and didn't really own that fancy car.
Her big talk about winning the contract turned out to be just a four-flush.
That businessman is just a four-flush who exaggerates his wealth.

Synonyms

bluff

vsfour-flush

64 5.5

An attempt to trick someone by showing false strength, for example in poker

focuses more on pretending success, wealth, or status rather than just strength

four-flusher

vsfour-flush

Offensive

9.9

A person who pretends to have skills or money to impress others

also covers the deceitful act or claim not only the person

four flush

vsfour-flush

Archaic

9.9

An attempt to trick others by pretending to have a strong poker hand or more success than you have

includes both the person and the deceptive claim rather than only the act

How Deceitful

fraud

577 4.0

dishonest

128 2.5

four-flush

Offensive

9.9

honest

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

four-flush singular

four-flushes plural

Morphology

four-flush = four + flush (opaque) = four + flush

Although formed from 'four' + 'flush', the idiomatic sense 'braggart/bluff' cannot be deduced from the literal components by an average learner.

Etymology

Four-flush comes from poker: a flush is five cards of the same suit, so having only four cards is not the real thing and a four-flush was a way to 'pretend' you had a strong hand. So, a four-flush now means a person or claim that is a 'bluff' or a show of false wealth or confidence.