deadpan
/ˈdedpæn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdedpæn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈded-ˌpan/ (ame, mw) · /ˈded.pæn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈded.pæn/ (ame, ipa)
deadpan — 形容詞
- deadpanpositive
- more deadpancomparative
- most deadpansuperlative
1. describing a way of speaking or performing where you keep your face blank and yo
故作嚴肅的
刻意保持嚴肅表情來製造幽默效果
describing a way of speaking or performing where you keep your face blank and your voice flat, especially when saying things that are actually funny — the humour comes from how serious you stay
Jiro's deadpan delivery of the final punchline made the whole room burst out laughing.
Jiro 以故作嚴肅的方式說出最後的笑點，讓全場哄堂大笑。
collocation: deadpan delivery
Emilia kept a deadpan expression through her entire comedy routine, never cracking a smile.
Emilia 在整段喜劇表演中始終保持故作嚴肅的表情，從未露出一絲笑容。
Beatriz was completely deadpan as she suggested 'boiled napkins' for dessert, and the new waiter froze in confusion.
Beatriz 故作嚴肅地建議用「水煮餐巾」當甜點，新來的服務生當場愣住。
Tariq read out the ridiculous memo in a deadpan voice, and his office colleagues snorted their coffee.
Tariq 以故作嚴肅的語氣朗讀那份荒謬的備忘錄，辦公室同事們噴出了咖啡。
Vikram has a deadpan sense of humour — his face never gives away the joke.
Vikram 有一種故作嚴肅的幽默感——他的表情永遠不會洩漏笑點。
- straight-faced
the closest synonym, but can describe any situation where someone suppresses a smile, not only comedic performance
- poker-faced
implies total blankness, often in a competitive or serious context, without the comedic connotation
- dry
describes understated, matter-of-fact humour that may include subtle cues like a raised eyebrow; deadpan is more extreme in its blankness
- expressionless
neutral term for showing no feeling; lacks the deliberate, performative quality that deadpan carries
用法筆記
Frequently modifies words like 'delivery,' 'humour,' 'expression,' or 'voice.' The blankness is deliberate and typically comic — unlike simply being unexpressive in a serious situation.
常見錯誤
deadpan — 動詞
- deadpanpresent simple I / you / we / they
- deadpans3rd person singular
- deadpaning-ing form
- deadpanedpast simple
1. to say something funny while keeping your face and voice completely serious, as
故作正經地說
以完全正經的表情說出好笑的話
to say something funny while keeping your face and voice completely serious, as if you meant every word
Jiro deadpanned that the office was moving to a desert island, and two interns believed him.
Jiro 故作正經地說公司要搬到荒島上，結果兩個實習生竟然相信了。
pattern: deadpan + that-clause
Emilia deadpanned her wedding toast, leaving half the guests unsure whether to laugh.
Emilia 故作正經地發表婚禮祝酒詞，讓一半賓客不確定該不該笑。
'We're naming the baby after the cat,' Vikram deadpanned, watching his mother's jaw drop.
「我們要用貓的名字給寶寶取名，」Vikram 故作正經地說，看著他媽媽下巴掉下來。
The teacher deadpanned a new rule: students who failed would each receive a 'lifetime study pass.'
老師故作正經地宣布一條新規則：不及格的學生每人將獲得一張「終身學習通行證」。"
Kwame deadpanned an apology for being 'only fifteen minutes late' after he arrived two hours early.
Kwame 故作正經地為「只遲到十五分鐘」道歉，但其實他提前兩小時就到了。
文法句型
deadpan + that-clause
deadpan + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always takes a direct object — you deadpan a joke, a line, or a that-clause. The humour comes from the gap between the flat delivery and what is actually being said.
deadpan — 副詞
1. in a way that shows no feeling on your face or in your voice, especially when be
不動聲色地
不顯露任何情緒地表達或表演
in a way that shows no feeling on your face or in your voice, especially when being funny
Jiro delivered the bad news deadpan — only his wife caught the tiny twitch in his eye.
Jiro 不動聲色地宣布了壞消息——只有他太太察覺到他眼睛微微抽動了一下。
Emilia asked, completely deadpan, whether the boss's new tie had been coloured by a toddler.
Emilia 不動聲色地問老闆的新領帶是不是被幼兒園小朋友上的色。
adverb phrase: completely deadpan
Vikram stared deadpan at the camera and announced he was running for president of the moon.
Vikram 不動聲色地盯著鏡頭，宣布他要競選月球總統。
The nurse told the boy, deadpan, that the needle would feel just like a feather tickle.
護士不動聲色地告訴男孩，打針的感覺就像被羽毛搔癢一樣。
Halima faced the furious customer deadpan, then slid a free dessert across the counter.
Halima 不動聲色地面對憤怒的顧客，然後把一份免費甜點推過櫃檯。
- flatly
similarly describes emotionless speech, but without the comedic implication that deadpan carries
用法筆記
Usually modifies speech verbs: say, ask, reply, deliver, announce. Often set off by commas when it interrupts the sentence flow.
deadpan — 名詞
1. a style of speaking or performing where you keep a completely serious face, espe
冷面作風
刻意不帶表情的說話或表演風格
a style of speaking or performing where you keep a completely serious face, especially while saying things that are funny — the humour comes from the contrast between what you say and how you look
Jiro's deadpan is so convincing that strangers often take his wildest stories at face value.
Jiro 的冷面作風太有說服力，陌生人常把他最離奇的故事當真。
The comedian built her entire career on a perfect deadpan that never once cracked during a show.
那位喜劇演員的整個職業生涯都建立在完美的冷面作風上，表演中從未破功過。
collocation: perfect deadpan
Vikram answered the ridiculous question with a deadpan that made it sound perfectly reasonable.
Vikram 以冷面作風回答那個荒謬的問題，讓它聽起來完全合理。
The waiter had a legendary deadpan — he could list imaginary specials without ever blinking.
那位服務生的冷面作風堪稱傳奇——他能完全不眨眼地列出虛構的今日特餐。
Camila mastered the deadpan so well that even close friends could not tell when she was joking.
Camila 的冷面作風爐火純青，連親近的朋友都分不清她是不是在開玩笑。
用法筆記
Often paired with adjectives like 'perfect,' 'legendary,' or 'convincing.' Describes a comedic technique or style, not a single facial expression. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which refers to a blank face itself rather than a performance style.
2. a face that shows absolutely no feeling — not sad, happy, angry, or anything els
撲克臉
完全看不出情緒的臉部表情
a face that shows absolutely no feeling — not sad, happy, angry, or anything else
The accused man sat through the entire trial with a deadpan that unnerved everyone in the courtroom.
被告男子帶著一張撲克臉坐完整場審判，讓法庭裡每個人都感到不安。
Halima stared at her brother's outrageous outfit with a deadpan for ten full seconds before speaking.
Halima 用一張撲克臉瞪著弟弟那身誇張的打扮，整整十秒後才開口說話。
The poker champion kept a deadpan that gave away nothing, even when he held a perfect hand.
那位撲克冠軍保持著一張撲克臉，即使拿到一手好牌也不洩漏半點訊息。
Dmitri kept a deadpan through the surprise party, though he was secretly pleased.
Dmitri 在驚喜派對中始終保持撲克臉，雖然他心裡其實很高興。
Fatima walked into the room with a deadpan that made everyone stop and wonder what had happened.
Fatima 帶著一張撲克臉走進房間，讓所有人都停下來猜想發生了什麼事。
- poker face
very close synonym, but 'poker face' is more strongly associated with hiding emotions during a game or negotiation
用法筆記
Refers to a physical facial expression (or lack of one). Unlike noun sense 1, this is not necessarily linked to comedy or performance — it can describe anyone showing no emotion, regardless of context.