poker face

noun

plural poker faces
: an inscrutable face that reveals no hint of a person's thoughts or feelings
Wright has a terrific poker face—I could see how he was able to keep things a secret right up through publication.Lawrence Weschler
Work is fun. I can lose myself in it, I laugh a lot, I feel like I'm very much myself here; there's no poker face.Jerry Useem
especially : one used strategically during a poker game
… a good "poker face" is considered a prerequisite for a successful gambling career. Sarah Ferguson
Fifteen-year-old Matthew Siegel says learning to keep a poker face while playing Texas Hold 'em with his grandfather … has served him well at school. The Wall Street Journal
poker-faced adjective
… the jurors, uniformly poker-faced through-out the proceedings, were giving no indication of whether they accepted that characterization. Lawrence Weschler

Examples of poker face in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Talk to me about maintaining your poker face going into the field. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024 Here is where Aaron’s poker face (and poker voice) really fails him. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024 Much like the ancient celebration of Samhain (All Hallows’ Eve), Scorpios are masters of subtlety and their quiet stillness more than often belies what’s actually stirring beneath the surface of their perpetual poker face. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024 Papa, papa-razzi photos from the Joker: Folie à Deux set showed Lady Gaga's poker face locking lips with another woman while filming a key scene from the musical thriller — but the moment didn't make it into the final cut. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for poker face 

Word History

Etymology

poker entry 2; from the poker player's need to conceal emotions during play

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poker face was in 1874

Dictionary Entries Near poker face

Cite this Entry

“Poker face.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poker%20face. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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