How do you say “Keep a straight face” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is Ernst bleiben, which literally means “To stay serious”. English speakers use keep a straight face to mean to avoid laughing or smiling when something is funny. A natural choice when someone tries not to laugh; the context supplies the hidden amusement. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
Ernst bleiben
/ɛʁnst ˈblaɪbn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “To stay serious”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
90 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
English keeps the face straight; German usually keeps the person serious. Both work when someone is struggling not to laugh.
“Ernst bleiben” can also mean taking a situation seriously. Use “sich das Lachen verkneifen” when the hidden laughter needs to be explicit.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 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 German?
Sich das Lachen verkneifen
Literally: “To deny oneself the laugh”
Stresses the effort of holding back laughter.
Keine Miene verziehen
Literally: “To change no facial expression”
Broader, for showing no visible reaction at all.
Common translation traps
Ein gerades Gesicht behalten
“Gerade” describes shape or direction rather than a serious expression.
The notes above explain why these versions do not work in this context in German.
In context
English
I couldn’t keep a straight face.
German
Ich konnte nicht ernst bleiben.
English
How did you keep a straight face when he said that?
German
Wie konntest du dir das Lachen verkneifen, als er das gesagt hat?
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 updated 2026-09-12