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.

---

poker face British  

noun

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

---

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]

---

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

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

From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2023

Barlow’s matter-of-fact approach, droll nature, deep voice and utter lack of a poker face never fail to crack me up.

From Salon • Nov. 9, 2023

“Well, Shady, it’s just that you don’t have the best poker face and we were afraid you might give it away before Burton could bid on the spring.”

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool