POKER FACE Definition & Meaning

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poker face

noun

an expressionless face.
He can tell a funny story with a poker face.
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

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

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

poker-faced adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of poker face¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

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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]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

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.

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It was hard to tell what those 12 New Yorkers made of the day's courtroom drama, as they maintained their poker faces through it all.

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“I think he has a very good — I don’t want to say poker face — but he’s very stoic,” said Roberts.

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poker dice poker-faced

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