leftwards hand
Unicode: 1FAF2
Description
A yellow circular face with a slightly open mouth, closed eyes indicating a suppressed or contained laugh, and a drop of sweat on its forehead. It signifies holding back a laugh.
Group:
People & Body > hand-fingers-open
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Suppressed laughter, stifled amusement, trying to maintain composure while finding something highly amusing.
Backstory
This emoji was introduced in Unicode 14.0 (2021). It fills a niche for conveying a laugh that is being held back, reflecting a common human experience of trying to suppress mirth, often for social reasons.
Usage Examples
- When someone tells a funny joke at an inappropriate time: 'My boss just said the funniest thing in the meeting suppressing_laughter_emoji'
- Trying to be serious but failing: 'I'm trying to look professional but I keep thinking about that meme suppressing_laughter_emoji'
- Reacting to an awkward but funny situation: 'That was so cringe but I can't stop laughing inside suppressing_laughter_emoji'
- Shared inside joke: 'Remember what happened last night? suppressing_laughter_emoji'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Often used to express politeness, awkwardness, or a struggle to control one's laughter in a formal or inappropriate setting.
East Asian culture:
Can convey a sense of 'laughing inside' due to polite constraints or a shared inside joke that cannot be openly expressed.