poker face
4 synonyms for poker face, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A blank expression that gives away nothing about what a person is thinking or feeling.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use poker face
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
keep a poker face
maintain a poker face
straight poker face
Informal but universally understood, and common in business and negotiation writing as well as everyday speech.
Etymology
From the card game poker, in which concealing your reaction to your own hand is essential to play.
Full origin of poker face →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a poker face and deadpan?
A poker face is about concealment — hiding what you think or feel, typically to gain an advantage. Deadpan describes delivering something funny with no expression at all, where the flatness is the joke. One hides information, the other creates humour.
How do you keep a poker face?
The usual advice is to relax the jaw and brow, keep your breathing steady, avoid touching your face, and settle your gaze rather than darting your eyes. The tell is nearly always a change from your resting expression, so consistency matters more than blankness.
