straight-face test
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.72 in modern English
25
Scrabble Score
16
Letters
3
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A tongue-in-cheek test of the merits of an argument which asks whether it can be made with a straight face (without laughing).
Example Sentences
- "As such, her [Nancy Pelosi's] effort to distance herself from the CIA's conceit on torture should not be surprising or cause for outrage. To presume the benefit of the doubt with the CIA after countless destroyed interrogation tapes doesn't even pass the straight face test."
- "A system of regulation might easily include requiring you to pay taxes if you choose to burden commerce; willful refusal to maintain adequate health coverage for yourself and your family is such a burden. To claim otherwise doesn't pass the straight-face test."
- ""Some of the pay-fors," said Mr. [John] Boehner in a news conference, referring to offsets to pay for a bill, "I don't think pass the straight-face test, and we will deal with that when we get to conference." He declined to offer specifics."
- "The good news for fans of legal combat is that the Senate trial promises to be entertaining. The bad news is that the Trump team's constitutional arguments can barely pass a straight-face test."