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keep a straight face

Idioms  
  1. Don't show one's feelings, especially refrain from laughing. For example, The school orchestra played so many wrong notes that I had trouble keeping a straight face. [Late 1800s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This is so obviously a market mania that I honestly don’t know how anyone on the Street of Shame can say otherwise and keep a straight face.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2025

You can’t keep a straight face with him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2025

Rep. Greg Casar of Austin, another freshman Democrat who sits beside Crockett in the Oversight Committee, said he often struggles to keep a straight face during Crockett’s speeches.

From Salon ● Jan. 18, 2024

The last one to keep a straight face wins.

From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2024

"He's been gone," I explained, trying to keep a straight face.

From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds

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