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)
- (Britain) Wearing a particularly stern and disapproving expression; humourless; priggish. [from 1930s]
- (Britain) Poker-faced.
Derived terms
- po-face
References
- “Po-faced” in Michael Quinion, World Wide Words, 1996–.
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