Bluff Charge

"In this life, as we mature, we learn to discern the animal's (person) approach so we do not always end up bowing our shoulders in defeat and scurrying away from watering holes (opportunities) meant to quench thirst (help us realise potential and fulfill purpose) ." ******************************************************************************************** Your word for Saturday 30th March is: bluff charge, n. bluff charge, n. [‘An instance of a large animal moving aggressively toward a potential threat or prey, then abruptly stopping without attacking.’] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈblʌf ˌtʃɑːdʒ/, U.S. /ˈbləf ˌtʃɑrdʒ/ Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: bluff n.2, charge n.1 Etymology: < bluff n.2 + charge n.1 An instance of a large animal moving aggressively toward a potential threat or prey, then abruptly stopping without attacking. 1917 W. L. Smith in Handbk. Trav.(Harvard Travellers Club) 183 Big cats will often make a bluff charge to try out the metal [sic] of the enemy. 1959 R. A. Dart & D. Craig Adventures with Missing Link xiv. 205 This dependance of the gorilla upon bluff charges for scaring off enemies..has been amply corroborated by..observers of mountain gorillas. 1980 Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald 21 Jan. 1/1 Evidence at the attack site showed the bear ‘had ample time’ to make a bluff charge rather than an outright attack. 2013 Guardian(Nexis) 29 June (Final ed.) 14 The bear retreated back up the dune, before doubling back to perform a bluff charge—the first time I felt genuine fear.