Every play has a name.
This is the library Unbluff scans against. When a message lands, you don’t get a vague feeling — you get the name of what they’re doing, and a reply that answers it.
Work
False deadline
An invented time pressure that stops you from thinking or negotiating.
“I need this by end of day, should be quick.”
Effort minimising
Your work is described as trivial so it can be requested for free.
“Tiny thing, five minutes max.”
Blame trail
A message written for the record rather than to solve the problem.
“Per my last email, this was already flagged.”
Fabricated agreement
A commitment you never made is presented as settled fact.
“As discussed, you agreed to own this.”
Workplace gaslighting
Your memory of an event is rewritten as your mistake.
“I never said that. You must have misunderstood.”
Moving goalposts
The success criteria change every time you meet them.
“This is close, but now it also needs to cover [new thing].”
Blame shifting
Their failure is reframed as your responsibility.
“If you'd chased me, this wouldn't have slipped.”
Praise trap
Flattery placed immediately before an unpaid ask.
“You're the only one I can trust with this.”
Public pressure
A question asked in front of an audience instead of privately.
“Any update on this? @you — in the all-hands channel.”
Family framing
Employment obligations are replaced by emotional ones.
“We're like a family here, so everyone pitches in after hours.”
Vague authority
An unnamed higher power is invoked so there is nobody to argue with.
“Management wants this changed.”
Implied threat
A consequence hinted at but never stated, so it can be denied.
“It'd be a shame if this came up in your review.”
Silent treatment
Withholding a reply until the pressure does the negotiating.
“Nothing. For four days. After a direct question.”
Template rejection
A refusal with no information in it.
“We went with a candidate whose experience was a better fit.”
Weaponised politeness
Hostility delivered in impeccable manners so any reaction looks unhinged.
“Just gently circling back on this, no rush at all!”
Sunk-cost pressure
Past investment is used as the argument for continuing.
“We've already put six months into this — you can't stop now.”
False consensus
An anonymous crowd is invented to outvote you.
“Everyone on the team feels the same way about this.”
Clients & deals
Lowball anchor
A number thrown out early to reset your expectations downward.
“Our budget is tight this quarter — can you do it for less?”
Scope creep by assumption
New work is slipped in as though it was always included.
“And obviously that includes the other pages too, right?”
Approval limbo
Payment or sign-off is deferred to a process with no owner and no date.
“We're just waiting on internal approvals.”
Payment in exposure
Non-money offered in place of money.
“This will be great for your portfolio, and more work will follow.”
Competitor leverage
An unnamed cheaper alternative used to move your price.
“We've had quotes half of yours.”
Personal
Guilt induction
Your boundary is reframed as damage you're doing to them.
“After everything I've done, this is where you draw the line?”
DARVO
They deny it, attack you for raising it, and end up the injured party.
“I can't believe you'd accuse me of that. Do you know how that makes me feel?”
Devaluation
Your concern is downgraded until it doesn't qualify as a topic.
“You're being dramatic, it's really not a big deal.”
Whataboutism
Your point is answered with an unrelated accusation.
“And what about the time you did the same thing?”