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être un pince-sans-rire

The French expression “être un pince-sans-rire” translates literally to “to be a pinch without laughing”.

English meaning:

  • to have a deadpan sense of humor
  • to have dry-wit humor

French meaning:

  • pratiquer l’humour sans en avoir l’air – to practice humor without seeming to do so

Example sentence:

  • Jean a fait rire les gens sans aucune expression du visage. C’est un vrai pince-sans-rire. Jean made the people laugh without showing any facial expression. he has a real deadpan sense of humor.

Related:

  • impassible, inexpressif, figéall adjectives for deadpan

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David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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