'Poker face' is a good example of a phrase used in poker that has entered the common vernacular. Pretty much everybody - whether they play or not - knows that having a poker face means successfully hiding your emotions behind an impassive, unrevealing expression. Then again, I wonder if the phrase itself might be hiding something. Phrases coined by Shakespeare - The Bard of Avon, he gave us more words and expressions than anyone else. Nautical phrases Ahoy there, me hearties, here's the language that came from our nautical friends. Phrases from the Bible - the single book that has given more sayings, idioms and proverbs to the English language than any other.

• Poker Face Idiom Phrase Meaning
• Idiom Phrase Dictionary
• Poker Face Idiom Phrase Crossword Puzzle
• Poker Face Idiom Phrase Examples

Is a secret safe with you? Here are some English idioms about telling a secret and keeping a secret.

Telling secrets

to leak = to let a secret out: “Somebody has leaked the diplomatic cables.” (If something leaks, it lets out water.)

whistle blower = someone who blows the whistle on an organisation tells the wider world about bad / illegal practices: “Whistle blowers aren’t always protected by the law.”

spill the beans = to tell a secret: “Josie spilled the beans on her relationship with her boss.”

let the cat out of the bag = let a secret out: “Don’t let the cat out of the bag! I want his present to be a secret.”

crack under pressure = tell something because you’ve been under pressure to: “The criminal cracked under pressure of his interrogation and confessed to robbery.”

Poker Face Idiom Phrase Meaning

take the lid off something = reveal a secret: “He’s taken the lid off what really happens in animal testing labs.”

Some gossip idioms:

dish the dirt = tell the public about an ex: “Is she going to dish the dirt on her footballer husband?”

kiss and tell = a story told by an ex: “In the latest kiss and tell, we hear all about a Hollywood actor.”

be a blabbermouth = tell everything (blab = slang for talk): “She’s such a blabbermouth. I can’t believe she told you!”

Keeping a secret

keep mum = keep quiet: “Can you keep mum? I’ve got something to tell you.”

stay schtum = stay silent: “If you can stay schtum, I want to say something to you…”

my lips are sealed = I won’t say a word: “You can trust me. My lips are sealed.”

keep a poker face = not give away anything: “If you can keep a poker face, people will tell you secrets.”

take your secret to the grave with you = never reveal a secret: “Unfortunately, he took his secret to the grave with him. We’ll never know the truth.”

keep something under wraps = keep something secret: “They kept their plans under wraps.”

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If you’re teaching or learning English, one way to keep things interesting is to look at the use of idioms in music. One musician who certainly knows how to rock idioms is Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga shocked the world in 2011 when she appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards wearing a dress made of meat… yuk! Love her or loathe her, her songs can be actually very useful if you are learning English as a second language. In this article, we take a look at the idioms contained within some of Lady Gaga’s most popular songs and tell you exactly what they mean.

Idioms in music

Lady Gaga Lyrics: Alejandro

You know that I love you, boy

Hot like Mexico, rejoice

At this point I gotta choose

Nothing to lose

Nothing to lose: Someone is described as having nothing to lose if they are in a bad situation that can’t get any worse, or there is no disadvantage to attempting to achieve something.

Example: “I am going to start my own business. I really hate my current job, so I have nothing to lose.”

Lady Gaga Lyrics: Alienated

Since I become a shooting star

I’ve been wondering where you are

Seems like your forever in a getaway

Momma told me that it would happen to me one day

Shooting star: A shooting star is someone who is rapidly rising to fame.

Example: “The American Idol contestants are shooting stars.”

Lady Gaga Lyrics: Fancy Pants

Let’s take off our fancy pants tonight

(Fancy, fancy, you’re so fancy)

Fancy pants: The term fancy pants is used to describe someone who acts in a manner that is perceived to be pretentious or over elaborate.

Example: “Eric is too much of a fancy pants for me. He is only interested in things that cost a lot of money.”

Lady Gaga Lyrics: Poker Face

Can’t read my, can’t read my

No he can’t read my poker face

Poker face: Someone is described as having a poker face if their face is expressionless and without emotion. The term poker face is mostly used when talking about the card game poker; poker players don’t want people to know what they are thinking or feeling, so they force a straight face that hides all clues. If they are holding a hand of cards and they don’t want the other players to have any idea what type of hand they have, they try to maintain a poker face.

Example: “Steve found it hard to preserve his poker face when he was dealt three kings.”

A little gambling is fun when you’re with me, I love it

Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun

Russian Roulette:Russian Roulette is a very dangerous game where a barrel gun is loaded with just one bullet. Players take turns to aim the gun at their head and pull the trigger. Eventually, one unlucky player will find the bullet and will be killed.

You are said to be playing Russian Roulette if you take unnecessary risks, or put yourself in a dangerous situation.

Example: “The man was sentenced to 5 years in prison for driving under the influence of alcohol. The judge said that he was playing Russian Roulette with other people’s lives.”

Lady Gaga Lyrics: Monster

That boy is bad

And honestly

He’s a wolf in disguise

But I can’t stop staring in those evil eyes

Wolf in disguise: Someone is described as being a wolf in disguise if they pretend to be nice or friendly but are really evil or dangerous.

Example: “The lawyer was a wolf in disguise. His questions were initially friendly, but he lured me into a false sense of security.”

Lady Gaga Lyrics: Red and Blue

Yeah I am red, you are blue

I’m old school and you’re so new

Old school: If someone is considered to be old school they are very traditional in their ways and thinking. It can be a negative term if the person described as being old school is being criticized for living in the past.

Example: “His teaching methods are just so old school. I hate his lessons.”

However, the term old school can also mean hip, cool and retro:

Example: “The DJ played some really cool old school tunes.”

Lady Gaga Lyrics: Starstruck

So starstruck, baby could you blow my heart up?

I’m so starstruck

Star struck:Starstruck is used to describe someone who is totally in awe of someone else’s celebrity status.

Example: “I was so starstruck when I met Lady Gaga that I couldn’t speak.”

Idiom Phrase Dictionary

Lady Gaga Lyrics: Wonderful

Looking for something crazy

beautiful nothing

now I’m talking in circles again

Taking in circles: To talk at length without making any real sense.

Example: “I couldn’t understand a thing that she was saying. She was talking in circles.”

Poker Face Idiom Phrase Crossword Puzzle

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Poker Face Idiom Phrase Examples

Looking for more fun ways to learn idioms? Take a look at our guide to idioms about the human body.