po-faced

American  

[poh-feyst] / ˈpoʊˌfeɪst /

adjective

Chiefly British.

1. having an overly serious demeanor or attitude; humorless.

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po-faced British  

adjective

1. (of a person) wearing a disapproving stern expression

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Etymology

Origin of po-faced

Origin uncertain; perhaps po a chamber pot + -faced, influenced by poker-faced

Example Sentences

The runways of Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Versace, Tom Ford and John Galliano weren’t merely po-faced models stalking a runway but full theatrical, momentous events.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2025

“We intend to fulfill our true ambitions and destiny as an independent, developed, prosperous country,” Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, said Wednesday as a po-faced William looked on.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 25, 2022

“The organization in those days was somewhat po-faced and risk-averse,” Mr. Donaldson said, using a phrase to describe a humorless stance.

From New York Times • Feb. 7, 2019

"It's not a super-serious regime, they do things with a kind of smirk and sometimes just with a smile. It's a system that allows for a certain amount of humour, it's not po-faced all."

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2018

We remember the po-faced poets who went away never to return from the Ambition Wars & Success Sorties.

From Unmanned by Oliver, Stephen