game face

American  

[geym feys] / ˈgeɪm ˌfeɪs /

noun

1. a neutral or intense facial expression that suggests a focus on winning, as in a competitive sport or card game.

   The game faces at this poker tournament are as unflinching as stone.

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Etymology

Origin of game face

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Raleigh said after the Arozarena snub that he meant no disrespect to his teammate and that he’s simply trying to put on a game face for an international competition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

As they move, their screens light up with different colors — crossing into “Winter Caverns” changes their game face to blue.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2025

Employees, feeling like expendable pawns in a grand corporate chess game, face an enormous emotional strain having to choose between their job and their home.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 7, 2023

But as a player, I can see her game face, and it was tense when she played.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2022

In the locker room I searched around for my game face, found it around the time I strapped the gear onto my belt: baton, latex-gloves holder, key clips—the tough stuff, the accou-trements of guard identity.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover