straight-face test

Meaning: (idiomatic)Atongue-in-cheektest of themeritsof anargumentwhich asks whether it can be made with astraight face(withoutlaughing).Synonyms:laugh test,giggle test2009June 26,John Wellington Ennis, “Picking onPelosi”, inHuffPost‎[1], archived fromthe originalon19 April 2023: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 thestraight facetest.2010December 30,Garrett Epps, “Health Care Suits: Separating Law From Spin”, inThe Atlantic‎[2], Washington, D.C.: The Atlantic Monthly Group,→ISSN,→OCLC, archived fromthe originalon2 February 2023: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 thestraight-face test.2012March 30,Jennifer Steinhauer, “Congress Extends Highway Funding With Stopgap Measure”, inThe New York Times‎[3], New York, N.Y.:The New York Times Company,→ISSN,→OCLC, archived fromthe originalon20 June 2022:"Some of thepay-fors," said Mr.[John] Boehnerin a news conference, referring to offsets to pay for a bill, "I don't think pass thestraight-face test, and we will deal with that when we get to conference." He declined to offer specifics.2020January 21,Gene Healy, “Op-Ed:Trumpimpeachment arguments can't pass straight-face test”, inLos Angeles Times‎[4], Los Angeles, L.A.: Los Angeles Times Communications LLC,→ISSN,→OCLC, archived fromthe originalon24 June 2022: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 astraight-face test.

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