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
Lawrence WeschlerWork 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
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
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
The Wall Street Journal poker-faced
ˈpō-kər-ˌfāst 
adjective … the jurors, uniformly poker-faced through-out the proceedings, were giving no indication of whether they accepted that characterization. Lawrence Weschler
Lawrence Weschler 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Argentine’s trademark poker face is shown only on the field. BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022 Within a few months Bob dumped me in the deep end of the celeb pool by inviting me to join the Rolling Thunder Revue, where one was required to keep a poker face while accompanying Dylan, Baez and McGuinn. Randy Lewis, Variety, 4 June 2022 Rachel is excellent at feigning interest, but Gabby — God bless her — has a terrible poker face. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 12 July 2022 In his classic poker face, Eminem looks at Davidson in question. Thania Garcia, Variety, 22 May 2022 Lincoln-Way Central freshman Lisabella Dimitrijevic has a real poker face when she’s in the pitching circle. Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2022 While the city is doing its best to keep a poker face, Bally’s CEO Soo Kim landed at Midway Airport Wednesday afternoon for a meeting with Mayor Lori Lightfoot to ostensibly finalize her choice as Chicago’s casino. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2022 Jackson carried that gentle poker face into Tuesday, a grueling 13-hour session where Republicans berated her with racist claims and insulting questions. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2022 In a recent video, Teixidor talks about maintaining a poker face during a crisis, only to erupt in tears once everything has settled down. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Mar. 2022 See More
BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022 Within a few months Bob dumped me in the deep end of the celeb pool by inviting me to join the Rolling Thunder Revue, where one was required to keep a poker face while accompanying Dylan, Baez and McGuinn. Randy Lewis, Variety, 4 June 2022 Rachel is excellent at feigning interest, but Gabby — God bless her — has a terrible poker face. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 12 July 2022 In his classic poker face, Eminem looks at Davidson in question. Thania Garcia, Variety, 22 May 2022 Lincoln-Way Central freshman Lisabella Dimitrijevic has a real poker face when she’s in the pitching circle. Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2022 While the city is doing its best to keep a poker face, Bally’s CEO Soo Kim landed at Midway Airport Wednesday afternoon for a meeting with Mayor Lori Lightfoot to ostensibly finalize her choice as Chicago’s casino. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2022 Jackson carried that gentle poker face into Tuesday, a grueling 13-hour session where Republicans berated her with racist claims and insulting questions. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2022 In a recent video, Teixidor talks about maintaining a poker face during a crisis, only to erupt in tears once everything has settled down. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Mar. 2022 See More 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