straight face

American

noun

a serious or impassive facial expression that conceals one's true feelings about something, especially a desire to laugh.

straight face British

noun

a serious facial expression, esp one that conceals the impulse to laugh

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

straight face Idioms

see keep a straight face.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of straight face

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bob Mortimer's efforts to make his rival comedians crack a smile while he kept a straight face in Last One Laughing earned him the Bafta for best entertainment performance.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

And I remember thinking, “oh my gosh, that someone could say that with a straight face? What am I doing here?”

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

The film boldly contemplates the atmosphere of Brontë’s novel with both a straight face and a sense of humor.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

“This is what happens when you have a democratic process,” Dutra told the crowd, with a straight face.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

“That’s easy,” I answer, with wide, soulful eyes and a totally straight face.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023