Welcome to Idiom 100, where we learn 100 commonly used idioms by native English speakers.

All of the explanations are in English, so it might be challenging for you,

but just try to imagine the meanings in your head and study hard and soon you'll be able to use these idioms in your conversations.

Is everyone ready? Let's begin.

Hello again!

Today's idiom is: keep a straight face.

Keep a straight face.

Can you picture what this idiom might mean?

Well, let's picture your face and let's make your face straight.

So, that means your eyes are straight and your mouth is straight.

Okay, so you look very serious.

Not smiling, not laughing, you have a straight face.

Okay, now let's listen to 2 examples and think about the meaning of this idiom.

The first example:

I need you to keep a straight face when I tell the joke to Stacey!

Okay, I'll try my best not to let it show on my face.

Okay, so in this situation, he wants to tell Stacey a joke and he doesn't want his friend to laugh and spoil the joke.

Okay, keep a straight face.

And the second example:

I can never tell when you’re being honest or not!

Ya, people say I tend to keep a straight face on all the time!

Okay, so maybe he keeps a straight face and you can't tell what he's feeling.

Happy, sad, joking, serious, always the same straight face, like a poker face, okay?

So, keeping a straight face means to look very serious and not to show emotion on your face.

Not smiling and not laughing, okay?

So, you can use this idiom in a situation when you want to tell someone not to laugh.

Maybe you have to tell them something embarrassing and you don't want them to laugh at you.

You can say, 'Please keep a straight face.'

Okay, or in a situation when you shouldn't show your emotion, so please keep a straight face, okay?

So, let's try using this idiom again some time soon.

See you next time!