Improv Comedy Techniques

noun a facial expression characterized by lack of emotion or enthusiasm

adjective showing no emotion or enthusiasm

• The speaker delivered the news with a dead pan expression, showing no emotion.
• She told the joke with a dead pan face, making it even funnier.
• He always has this dead pan look on his face, it's kinda creepy.
• Her dead pan delivery of the bad news left everyone feeling uneasy.

noun a man who plays the role of the serious or conventional partner in a comedy duo

• In a comedy duo, the straight man plays the role of the serious and logical character.
• The straight man in the group always keeps things in check when the others get too wild.
• The straight man at the party was a real buzzkill, always trying to bring the mood down.
• She saw herself as the straight man in their relationship, always having to be the voice of reason.