Ir de farol
To be bluffing.
to bluff; **to bluff**; **to be bluffing**; **to call someone's bluff**; **to be making an empty threat**; **to put on a front**
Ir de farol means to bluff, to pretend to have an advantage that you do not really have, or to make a claim or threat without intending or being able to follow through.
No te lo creas: va de farol.
Don't believe him—he's bluffing.
El jefe dice que va a despedirnos, pero creo que va de farol.
The boss says he's going to fire us, but I think he's bluffing.
Le dije que conocía al director, pero iba de farol.
I told him I knew the director, but I was bluffing.
No sé si habla en serio o si va de farol.
I don't know whether he means it or whether he's just bluffing.
It is especially common when someone is trying to intimidate or persuade another person.
- pretends to know more than they do
- makes a threat they probably cannot carry out
- exaggerates their strength or resources
- pretends to have information or evidence
- tries to make others believe something that is not true
The expression comes from the world of cards and gambling.
A farol is a bluff: a player behaves as though they have a strong hand when in reality they do not.
The idea was subsequently extended beyond card games to any situation in which someone pretends to possess an advantage, certainty or power that they do not actually have.
The expression can refer to a harmless exaggeration or to a serious threat.
For example:
«Te voy a denunciar.»
If the speaker has no intention or real possibility of doing so, someone might say:
«Va de farol.»
The expression therefore suggests that the other person's words should not be taken at face value.
Spanish has several expressions borrowed from the language of cards:
- Ir de farol → to bluff.
- Tirarse un farol → to make a bluff / boast.
- Tener un as en la manga → to have an ace up one's sleeve.
- Jugar sus cartas → to play one's cards.
- Poner las cartas sobre la mesa → to put one's cards on the table.
Ir de farol has therefore moved far beyond the card table: today you can use it to describe a politician, a boss, a friend or anyone else who is pretending to have more power or information than they really possess. ```
Do not translate:
Va de farol.
as:
He's going with a lantern.
Instead:
He's bluffing.
He's just bluffing.
He's making an empty threat.
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