Dictionary

po-faced en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈpəʊ.feɪst/

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”.

Meanings

1. (UK) Wearing a particularly stern and disapproving expression; humourless; priggish.
   • I mean, you would never guess if you came up from the South to Edinburgh in August that it is such a po-faced, humourless place, now would you? 2007 August 16, Kelvin Holdsworth, “Edinburgh?”, in Thurible.net:
   • Nae hassle man . . . I'll git oaf the skag, and Saughton's barry fir hash. It'll be a piece ay pish likesay . . . he sais, as he's escorted away by a po–faced labdick. 1993, Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, Times Film School, page 68:
2. (UK) Poker-faced.

Forms

Deriveds

po-face

Translations (4)

de streng (wearing a particularly stern and disapproving expression) · de grimmig (wearing a particularly stern and disapproving expression) · de mürrisch (wearing a particularly stern and disapproving expression) · pl z kwaśną miną (wearing a particularly stern and disapproving expression)

wikipedia: Michael Quinion