po-faced

English

Etymology

Uncertain, probably from po, abbreviated slang based on French pot de chambre (“chamber pot”), after the distasteful expression anyone would adopt upon being presented with a full one. Perhaps similarly from pooh; perhaps influenced by poker-faced. Also possibly “poor-faced”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpəʊ.feɪst/

Adjective

po-faced (comparative more po-faced, superlative most po-faced)

1. (British) Wearing a particularly stern and disapproving expression; humourless; priggish. [from 1930s]
2. (British) Poker-faced.

Derived terms

• po-face

Translations

wearing a particularly stern and disapproving expression

• German: streng (de), grimmig (de), mürrisch (de)