poker face

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.

poker face

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• poker-faced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of poker face¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Idioms and Phrases

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]