poker up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To become expressionless; to put on a poker face.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
When his mama had ventured in the most amiable way to remark on her occasional free and easy ways, he had pokered up at once and declared that it was her very lack of pretension which he found most engaging.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “poker up” mean?
To become expressionless; to put on a poker face.
Is “poker up” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.