How do you say “Keep a straight face” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is Garder son sérieux, which literally means “To keep one’s seriousness”. English speakers use keep a straight face to mean to avoid laughing or smiling when something is funny. The usual expression for staying serious when you want to laugh. It is informal, neutral and common in everyday French.
Closest natural French
Garder son sérieux
/ɡaʁ.de sɔ̃ se.ʁjø/
- Literal meaning
- “To keep one’s seriousness”
- Register
- informal, neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
95 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
English focuses on the face, while French focuses on staying serious. The result is the same: the laughter stays hidden.
The French expression works naturally in jokes and funny situations. “Rester impassible” sounds cooler and can refer to any emotion.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in French?
Se retenir de rire
Literally: “To hold oneself back from laughing”
Makes the effort to avoid laughing explicit.
Rester impassible
Literally: “To remain impassive”
More formal and broader, for showing no emotion.
Don't translate it literally
Garder un visage droit
“Droit” does not describe a face that is hiding amusement.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in French, not as expressions.
In context
English
I couldn’t keep a straight face.
French
Je n’ai pas pu garder mon sérieux.
English
Try to keep a straight face while I tell the story.
French
Essaie de garder ton sérieux pendant que je raconte l’histoire.
Related expressions
- What “Keep a straight face” means in English
- Pull someone's leg, To tease someone playfully.
- Play devil's advocate, Argue the opposite view to test an idea.
Last reviewed 2026-09-12