She kept a poker face and didn’t show her emotions during negotiations.
word origin — From poker — players hide all emotion from their face so opponents can't read whether their hand is good.
keep a poker face, give someone a pat on the back, have a foot in both camps, take someone under your wing, a storm in a teacup: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 59. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
keep a poker face · idiom/kip ə ˈpoʊkɚ feɪs/
to hide one’s emotions and remain expressionless
She kept a poker face and didn’t show her emotions during negotiations.
Origin: From poker — players hide all emotion from their face so opponents can't read whether their hand is good.
give someone a pat on the back · idiom/ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ə pæt ɔn ðə bæk/
to praise or congratulate someone for their effort
He got a pat on the back for his excellent work.
Origin: From the 1800s — a literal friendly pat on someone's back communicated approval and shared congratulation.
have a foot in both camps · idiom/hæv ə fʊt ɪn boʊθ kæmps/
to be involved with two opposing sides
She has a foot in both camps, supporting both sides of the argument.
Origin: From military camps — a soldier with one foot in each camp belonged fully to neither side at once.
take someone under your wing · idiom/teɪk ˈsʌmwʌn ˈʌndɚ jʊr wɪŋ/
to mentor or guide someone’s development
The mentor took him under his wing and helped him grow in his career.
Origin: An ancient image — mother birds shelter their chicks under their wings, both protecting and teaching them.
a storm in a teacup · idiom/ə stɔrm ɪn ə ˈtikʌp/
a small issue that is exaggerated into a big deal
The argument they had at lunch was just a storm in a teacup—by dinner, they had completely forgotten about it.
Origin: From an 1800s British expression — comparing exaggerated outrage to a violent storm contained inside a tiny teacup.