Hello and welcome back to daily English Today’s word is: deadpan.
Let’s break that down: dead… pan. One more time: deadpan. Let’s check the examples: When everyone burst out laughing at the joke, he just sat there, completely expressionless. Deadpan.
She told the most ridiculous story about aliens stealing her pizza — in such a serious, deadpan voice that we almost believed her.
Deadpan means saying something in a completely serious, emotionless way — even when it's meant to be funny or sarcastic. It’s often used in comedy when someone acts totally serious while saying something absurd.
More Examples
The comedian’s deadpan delivery made the audience laugh even harder.In a serious classroom discussion, one student raised her hand and said, “I believe cats should rule the world.” Her deadpan tone left the teacher speechless.
My brother, in his deadpan style, told me he’d joined a circus. I believed him for a second.
Fun fact: The word deadpan actually comes from the idea of having a “dead” expression on your “pan” — pan being an old slang word for face! It’s been around since the 1920s and is often used to describe comedians like Buster Keaton or actors like Aubrey Plaza.
Have you ever said something funny in a completely deadpan way — or been fooled by someone who did? Let me know! And don’t forget — your face doesn’t always have to match your humor.