keep a straight face

Meaning

This expression means to manage to stop yourself from laughing or smiling, especially in a serious, awkward, or formal situation where laughing would be inappropriate. In casual professional settings, it is often used humorously when someone says or does something ridiculous but everyone must remain serious.

Examples

• When the client's phone started playing a loud cartoon ringtone, I could barely keep a straight face.

  When the client's phone started playing a loud cartoon ringtone, I could barely keep a straight face.

• It was hard to keep a straight face during the presentation when the projector glitched and showed a cat picture.

  It was hard to keep a straight face during the presentation when the projector glitched and showed a cat picture.

• She kept a straight face while telling her coworker a ridiculous joke as if it were true.

  She kept a straight face while telling her coworker a ridiculous joke as if it were true.

• I don't know how the CEO kept a straight face when the intern accidentally called him 'dad'.

  I don't know how the CEO kept a straight face when the intern accidentally called him 'dad'.

• Try to keep a straight face during the negotiation, even if their initial offer is laughably low.

  Try to keep a straight face during the negotiation, even if their initial offer is laughably low.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I couldn't hold a straight face when he tripped over the rug.

  ✓ I couldn't keep a straight face when he tripped over the rug.

  The standard idiom is 'keep a straight face', not 'hold' or 'make'.

• ✗ He looked at me with a direct face so I wouldn't laugh.

  ✓ He looked at me with a straight face so I wouldn't laugh.

  The adjective to describe a serious, expressionless face in this context is always 'straight', not 'direct' or 'flat'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It's difficult to ___ when someone makes a funny mistake during a serious meeting.

  💡 Avoid laughing or smiling.

  Show answer

  keep a straight face

• Even though the situation was hilarious, the HR manager managed to ___.

  💡 Remain serious and expressionless.

  Show answer

  keep a straight face