This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
The slang term poker face came from the card game poker, where success often depends not only on the cards in hand but also on the ability to control emotions. A “poker face” is a complete lack of reaction when a player hides joy from a winning hand or disappointment from bad cards.
Eventually, this expression transcended casinos and became popular in everyday English. In slang, poker face means the ability to remain calm and impenetrable even in the most tense or humorous situations. For example, when someone tells a joke and you sit there without a smile — that is a poker face.
In culture, the expression gained additional popularity after the release of the hit Lady Gaga “Poker Face”, and now it is often associated not only with the game but also with a way of self-presentation — hiding true thoughts and intentions.
In the Ukrainian language, similar meanings are conveyed by the phrases “stone face”, “not showing a sign”, or “staying cold”.
Thus, poker face is a metaphor for emotional restraint that has become a universal expression for describing people who can control their reactions.
This post doesn't have any additions from the author yet.
