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keep a straight face

简体
keep a straight face
忍住不笑

Date: Aug 16 2012

Themes: Friend

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

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“I had a hard time keeping a straight face while we were filming.”

- Actress Denise Richards on the hardest part about appearing in the new comedy, Madea’s Witness Protection. (Us Weekly)

“在拍摄的时候,我很难忍住不笑。”

- 女演员丹妮丝·理查兹 (Denise Richards) 谈论出演喜剧新作《黑疯婆子的证人保护计划》(Madea’s Witness Protection) 最难的部分。

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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not laugh or smile

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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Laughing is a pleasure. It’s fun to laugh with your friends and family, make other people laugh, or even laugh by yourself at a funny movie. But there are some situations when it is not proper to laugh. That’s when you need to try to keep a straight face.

A “straight” face is a serious face. When you have a straight face, you are not laughing, and you aren’t even smiling. You are looking completely normal and calm. You might need to keep a straight face in class if your friend passes a funny note to you. If you smile or laugh, you could get in trouble from your teacher.

A good actor should be able to keep a straight face when needed. But that can be a challenge when they are acting in a comedic scene. Denise Richards appeared in a funny movie, Madea’s Witness Protection. The other actors were so hilarious, she found it difficult to keep a straight face on camera.

Can you keep a straight face when you need to? When is it hard for you to keep a straight face?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

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“It’s hard for me to keep a straight face when I see my boyfriend dance.”

“Dana kept a straight face throughout her brother’s performance, even though she thought he looked very silly as a ballerina.”

“Don’t look at me while I’m singing, or I won’t be able to keep a straight face.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

cubi1604 Try not to smile or laugh
by cubi1604
Ahshan express the same hard emotion in my face for a long time.
by Ahshan
Erkaamgaa when you are in a funny situation to keep serious face and not laugh.
by Erkaamgaa
To keep a serious facial expression, in particular one that conceals the impulse to laugh.
by candycandice
Xaviervet I guess, not laughing when you are not supposed to....keeping serious even though you want to laugh
by Xaviervet
Plx Don't show one's feelings, especially refrain from laughing.
by Plx
a2020 it means it has been hard for him to not have a reaction
by a2020
Manu4 To have a serious or calm expression no matter the circumstances.
by Manu4
Amir93 I guess it means to prevent laughing and keep oneself serious for filming...
by Amir93
 julito refrain from smiling.
by julito
having a serious expression.
by bellaboo2422
TITO007 Showing that one is completely serious
by TITO007
winicios Not laughingng. Keeping a serious look.
by winicios

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Comments

Log in to Comment

8312016

8312016

Switzerland

hello i think its so hard if u want control ur action and reaction in many kind of situation. then its better let happen for u. and let ur spirit and mind decide.


acterss for every role must have a action  and reaction that director said.


then do every thing u like in ur life and take it easy 

12:56 PM Aug 16 2012 |

1 person likes this

Summer0113

Summer0113

China

I can keep a straight face bcs i dislike laugh,maybe i should laugh more.

12:19 PM Aug 16 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

many years ago I had to go to a funeral parlour  to present my condolences to a friend ,I remember that I had to grit my teeth because I sensed that I was smiling…you can imagine the situation. Ok , maybe all this  is a reaction    to  release  the tension  of that moment.  Innocent 

11:31 AM Aug 16 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Irene, I love Mr. Bean and his girlfriend.

11:05 AM Aug 16 2012 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Usually I keep a straight face  ,I don´t know why  cuz i love smiles  , when we smile  our brain releases endorphines  which are good for the body and mind.  I should smile moreYell 

Charmisse

Charmisse

Philippines

It’s really difficult to keep a straight face if the situation is really funny..but for me I think i can if I really need to.Laughing

10:59 AM Aug 16 2012 |

1 person likes this

teacher78

Turkey

Coolnot expose emotions, not reveal one’s feelings through facial expressions

10:54 AM Aug 16 2012 |

1 person likes this

Irene Forever

Ukraine

It’s really difficult for me to keep a strange face. I just adore smiling. And if I want to laugh, there is  no way to make me not do it. I’m kidding, of course.:)


shvan.toomare

Iraq

yes . should you can do be agood actre , when you need to stop your luoghing ,

10:21 AM Aug 16 2012 |

m/d

m/d

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i really agree that its necessary to have straight face in formal situations but i my self sometimes cant control my laughing when something funny happensLaughing

nourelyakine

Algeria

Is a difficult task for comedians  people Cool

07:42 AM Aug 16 2012 |

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

I can keep a straight face in relaxed times, but if there’s a joke or something funny, I can’t hide my wide laugh …Laughing

06:42 AM Aug 16 2012 |

kngochai

Viet Nam

I usually smile when I am talking to others! So it really hard for me to keep a straight face in most situation!Smile

05:58 AM Aug 16 2012 |

1 person likes this

andrestorres.e

Chile

It’s too difficult keep a straight face with someone who’s smiling at you. Unless you are in a bad mood or concentrated enough.

03:39 AM Aug 16 2012 |

bonniewang99

China

It’s too hard to me . When I talk about a joke to others, I laughing before the others are.

03:23 AM Aug 16 2012 |

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

.that is way to show some you do not want  what he or she is doing.

03:09 AM Aug 16 2012 |

Shiry

Shiry

Saudi Arabia

I liked this lesson!


 I can keep a straight face , but it’s really hard when you’re in a funny situation and you’ve to keep a straight face.


It’s SO HARD for me to keep a straight face , when I’m laughing LOL!


specially in class haha.


Thanks!


Cool

02:16 AM Aug 16 2012 |

saeedshin

saeedshin

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I also have a comment to everybody that want to open a new english conversation for everyday free!


I have found a new software for my cell phone which name is “Viber”.


It is free and you can install it in Andoid, apple or pc!


After the installing which does not need more than 2 minutes, you can register you cell number free , but you have to connect to internet


Afterwards if you add phone number of your freinds who are members of that application and registered before you can make a  call or send a sms free!


I used it and find it wicked awesome.


If somebody find my tip very usefull and has mobile phone and internet we can make a group which can make a call free around a world


what do you think? If you are ok with my idia give me private message to exchange number and start the new way for upgrading english speaking….

01:59 AM Aug 16 2012 |

saeedshin

saeedshin

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

actorss and actress must have capability to keep a straight face. because every cuts of films they have diffrenet parts with difrenet kind of people in diferent situations.



If You and Me sometimes couldnt keep a stright face, dont worry about it! because it is a skill which everybody can get it by exercise


However maybe somebody has this kind of skill without any practice which is not obnormal. for instance I have had it since I was born and sometimes I have used it to pretend that the situation is not hilarious or funny!



What do You think?!


01:48 AM Aug 16 2012 |

ErinDong

ErinDong

United States

When I was little, I had stage fright so that caused me to laugh on stage. To stop myself from laughing, I had to grit my teeth. I found that it worked pretty well, exept that I couldn’t speak clearly. So the only way to prevent that is to work on keeping a straight face

06:07 PM Aug 15 2012 |

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