poker face

American  

noun

1. an expressionless face.

   He can tell a funny story with a poker face.

2. a person who has or deliberately assumes a poker face.

   It is impossible to tell what that poker face is really thinking.

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poker face British  

noun

1. informal a face without expression, as that of a poker player attempting to conceal the value of his cards

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poker face Idioms  

1. A visage lacking any expression that can be interpreted, as in Whenever Betty attended one of her children's performances, she managed to keep a poker face. This term alludes to the facial expression of a poker player who is expert at concealing his feelings about his hand. [c. 1880]

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Other Word Forms

• poker-faced
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of poker face

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

Cahillane, a 6-foot-tall marathoner who sports a shock of white hair and a practiced poker face, was a seasoned food executive, fresh off the successful breakup of another food company: Kellogg.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

An earlier rolling encounter with reporters took No 10 by surprise: the prime minister's wife, standing next to the president, perfecting her poker face as the questions – and answers – flowed and flowed.

From BBC • Jul. 28, 2025

A good poker face has historically been as integral to appearing presidential as a firm handshake or stiff suit.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2024

BERKELEY, Calif. — Djouvensky Schlenbaker has perfected the poker face.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2023

Dr. Karen Singh was in constant motion, like a badly drawn cartoon, but she had the single greatest resting poker face I’d ever seen.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green