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

Gaffigan is serious enough about his pursuit to say “my whiskey journey” several times in conversation with a straight face and no air quotes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, up the road from MIT at Harvard Business School, the latest business review asks — with a straight face — “AI Companies Don’t Have a Profitable Business Model. Does That Matter?”

From MarketWatch

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deception felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

From BBC

This is so obviously a market mania that I honestly don’t know how anyone on the Street of Shame can say otherwise and keep a straight face.

From MarketWatch

The others kept straight faces, but Carr couldn't manage it without dissolving into a fit of giggles.

From BBC