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”.[1]

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

References

  1. ^ Michael Quinion (1996–2025) “Po-faced”, in World Wide Words.
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