Q&A for How to Keep a Straight Face

Usually, if you're trying not to laugh, there are a few ways to achieve it. You can bite down on the inside of your cheek until the urge to laugh goes away. Or you can try to convince yourself that you're delivering bad news until you get to the punch line or the end of the joke.

Try discreetly pinching or scratching yourself, and focusing on the feeling of the pinch or scratch instead of the feeling of being tickled.

Think about something else, something funny or odd. Do not think of cute, sweet or sad things, as these can just add to the feelings of wanting to cry. If it's inevitable, pretend to trip and say that you hit your hand against something and it really hurts and rub it a lot.

You can try pressing your teeth down really hard and that should help you not to laugh.

Think about how much worse your punishment will be if you don't look like you're taking the situation seriously. Imagine yourself grounded or sent to your room without your devices and how bored you'd be.

Think about how bad the situation is or think of a situation that makes you not smile. If that doesn't work, try pinching yourself, biting your tongue, and/or biting your cheek.

Don't think about the joke while saying it. Think about the facts behind it, like what makes it funny. Basically, take the "fun" out of it.

Try to imagine yourself in their situation. Think of how embarrassed you would be and it'll help you control yourself.

It depends on the situation. For example, if you are crying because you have stage fright, try to pretend that your audience is not there, or something funny--like pumpkins or chickens. If you are crying because of an act, try to think of something funny instead.

Think of a sad part of a movie, TV series, game you've played or book you've read.

Prepare you mind with something unfunny, like a sad moment in your past, or you can laugh for a second and then stop yourself.

Think about how confident you are and, if that doesn't work, try biting your tongue or the inside of your cheek.

When you're about to smile or laugh, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and think of something sad or soothing. Bite your tongue, pinch yourself, squeeze your hands together until it hurts. Just try anything! When you're at home or when you're alone practice some of these in the mirror while thinking of something funny. Remember it may take a couple days to get the hang of it.

In humanity we have certain standards of beauty that aren't realistic. Just focus on being the best you and know that god created you and thinks you are pretty and that's all that matters.

Don't look at the other people in your group. You could push your feet into the ground, bite your tongue, move your fingers around, squeeze your hands together, or think of something sad. Take slow, deep breaths.

You can think about something serious, and focus on that so that you stop laughing.

Avoid looking at them and bite the inside of your cheek. If you have any friends that are present in the audience and that will make you laugh, avoid looking at them. It's generally okay to smile at the audience while you're doing a presentation or making a speech, just try to avoid laughing.

You have to condition yourself. I know it can be hard to keep a straight face, especially if you don't see what you did as wrong. So, you can think of something else, that's not funny. But don't think too deeply, in case you are asked a question.

Look into your arms, hiding your face. Or just try to be empathetic and imagine how you would feel if someone smirked at you when you were having a difficult time.

If you remember a funny joke or just naturally go to a smile during a funeral or something else, you just need to learn how to suppress yourself.

Think of difficult math problems. Focus your sight on something beyond your friend's face. Or ignore the person, and if possible, walk away.

If you're acting, you probably shouldn't keep a straight face. You need to be emotional while acting. If you need to not smile, try biting your cheeks or your lip. Try pretending that you are the character that you are acting.

Think about WHAT makes the joke funny, and you'll most likely keep a straight face.

Use a mirror at home or practice with other people. An actor or drama teacher might be able to help you, too.

Imagine you are on a dangerous mission, and if you don't keep a straight face, you could be killed.

Remember you are his parent and he is not being funny, he is being disobedient. It is your job as a parent to discipline his actions. Bite the inside of your cheek; it can hurt, but it works for some.

Consider the opposite: are you willing to accept that from now on, for the rest of your life, you will be conditioned to uncontrollably laugh every time someone mentions math? That's no way to go through life, so try harder. If you've tried everything but there's no results, then there's simply no results yet, and you ought to keep up these efforts for your own sake. Never mind disturbing class or disrespecting the teacher, worry about being conditioned beyond your own control to laugh at every mention of math. Focus, control yourself, take deep breaths. You'll get there.

Think about something extremely sad. About someone you lost, a broken friendship, and this will help you to feel more serious and keep a straight face.

Practice. Get someone to tell you jokes, and practice not laughing. Get someone to tell you sad stories, and don't cry.

Say it over and over again. Practice it 200 times in a mirror. It will stop being funny.