Meaning & use
straightface
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Meanings
nouncountable
A facial expression that shows no emotion or amusement, especially when trying not to laugh.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a straightface' or 'straightfaces'. It is often used in the phrase 'keep a straight face'.
Patterns
- keep a straight face
- with a straight face
- say something with a straight face
She told the joke with a completely straight face, so no one knew she was kidding.
He tried to keep a straight face while his brother was dancing badly.
It was hard to maintain a straight face during the serious meeting.
noununcountable
The act or habit of not showing emotion on your face.
Grammar: Uncountable: used without 'a' or a plural when referring to the quality in general.
Patterns
- have straightface
- show straightface
Her straightface during the interview made it hard to tell what she was thinking.
He is known for his straightface, even when he is joking.
Word forms
| plural | straightfaces |
|---|
Common combinations
- keep a straight face
- The comedian was so funny that I could not keep a straight face.
- with a straight face
- He said he was late because of aliens, and he said it with a straight face.
- maintain a straight face
- The soldiers had to maintain a straight face during the ceremony.
- completely straight face
- She listened to the ridiculous story with a completely straight face.
Synonyms and how they differ
- poker face
- A poker face is a deliberately emotionless expression, often used in card games or when hiding feelings; it is more specific to hiding a reaction, while straightface often suggests trying not to laugh.
- deadpan
- Deadpan describes a style of humor or a manner of speaking without showing emotion; it is an adjective or adverb, not a noun, and focuses on delivery rather than just the face.
Opposites
Word family
- straight-faced adjective
- Having a serious or emotionless expression.
Commonly confused: straightface or serious face?
straightface vs serious face
A 'serious face' is just a face that looks serious; 'straightface' specifically means not showing amusement or emotion, often when you want to laugh.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'straightface' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'keep a straightface' means to not laugh or smile, which fits the context of a funny movie. Option An is wrong because 'straightface' is not used with 'had' in this way. Option C is wrong because a clown would not make a straightface to entertain. Option D is wrong because 'straightface' is not a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “straightface”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.