straight face

American  

noun

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

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straight face British  

noun

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

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straight face Idioms  

1. see keep a straight face.

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Other Word Forms

• straight-faced adjective
• straight-facedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of straight face

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

It's the comedy show with a simple format - try to make everyone else laugh while keeping a straight face yourself.

From BBC

I raise an eyebrow, trying to keep a straight face.

From Literature

The answer, if you're interested, is 3.86kg, but it's typical of his sardonic humour, everything said with a straight face.

From BBC

“We want to say with a straight face that we are a bargain—not in a reasonable world but in the actual world.”

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Salon