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]

Example Sentences

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.

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

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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.

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

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And he had a poker face as Trump's defense lawyer, former federal prosecutor Todd Blanche, asked him about his frequent cascade of insults at Trump, who he's repeatedly said he wants to see behind bars.

Read more on Salon