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

His game face is a study in microexpressions, from awkward smiles to eyebrow pops.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Calvert, a lefty, had a steely-eyed game face, grinning only when she scored a point or stopped an opponent’s serve.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2025

Rodgers finished the game face down on the turf after a failed final play that ended with him throwing a lateral out of bounds.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 23, 2022

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

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2022

But even with the strongest game face I can put on, I know that I’m no match for Beatriz Mendez.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles