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

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," Carr said.

From BBC

Steve Clarke's poker face remained intact, his demeanour telling you nothing about how dreadful a night this was for himself and his team.

From BBC

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

But when the official was shown to be correct, their poker faces had to fight the urge to look even mildly smug.

From BBC

They will then attempt to put on a poker face and head out into the results room to take their seats on the front row, the rest of us still clueless about the result.

From BBC