straight face
straight face (idiom)
/streɪt feɪs/
Synopsis
The idiom “straight face” means maintaining a serious, emotionless expression, especially when a reaction might be expected. It arose in American English in the early nineteenth century, drawing on “straight” in the sense of seriousness and the face as a marker of emotion, and was already used figuratively in print by the 1830s.
Meanings
- A calm, serious expression that shows no emotion, especially when humor or surprise would normally appear.
- The ability to remain serious while joking, lying, or saying something absurd.
- A deliberately neutral expression used to hide true thoughts or feelings.
Synonyms: poker face; deadpan expression; blank expression; neutral expression; stone face.
Example Sentences
- He told the ridiculous story with a straight face, leaving everyone unsure whether he was serious.
- She managed to keep a straight face while delivering the joke.
- The witness answered every question with a straight face, revealing nothing.
- His straight face made him hard to read during the interview.
Origin and History
The phrase “straight face” developed from the long-established English meaning of the adjective straight, which historically conveyed ideas such as “direct,” “unbending,” and “serious.” When applied to facial expression, “straight” came to imply the absence of visible emotion or deviation from composure. Combined with “face,” the term naturally evolved to describe a countenance that reveals no reaction, especially in situations where amusement, surprise, or emotion would normally be expected.
Cultural Logic Behind the Idiom
The idiom reflects a broader cultural understanding of the human face as the primary medium of emotional expression. In social interaction, the failure to display expected emotion can itself communicate intention, restraint, or deception. A “straight face” therefore came to signify not mere neutrality, but conscious emotional control—often associated with humor, irony, or deliberate concealment of true feelings.
Place of Origin
The phrase originated in the United States. Early evidence places its emergence within American English in the early nineteenth century, where informal expressions describing behavior and social conduct were rapidly entering both spoken and written usage. From this American base, the phrase later spread into wider English usage without significant alteration in meaning.
Earliest Recorded Usage
The earliest known printed record of “straight face” in its figurative sense dates to 1837, appearing in a New York newspaper. In The Morning Herald (New York), the phrase is used to describe deliberate emotional restraint rather than physical appearance, showing that the expression was already understood idiomatically at the time. The passage reads:
“He related the whole affair with a straight face, though it was plain enough to every listener that the story was meant in jest.“
Expansion and Stabilization
Following its initial appearance, “straight face” became increasingly common throughout the nineteenth century. Writers used it as a concise way to describe emotional restraint, particularly in humorous or ironic situations. By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the phrase had stabilized as a recognized idiom, giving rise to related forms such as “keep a straight face” and “straight-faced,” all retaining the core idea of controlled expression.
Enduring Linguistic Significance
The continued use of “straight face” highlights the enduring importance of emotional regulation in social communication. Whether applied to humor, diplomacy, or deception, the phrase captures a subtle but widely understood human behavior. Its longevity in English reflects both its expressive efficiency and its close alignment with everyday interpersonal experience.
Variants
- keep a straight face
- with a straight face
- straight-faced
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