tongue-in-cheek

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See also: tongue in cheek

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

This phrase alludes to the facial expression created by putting one's tongue in one's cheek. The term first appeared in print in 1828,[1] but it isn't entirely clear that it was used with the modern, rather than a literal, sense. A later citation from Richard Barham is unambiguous.[2]

Pronunciation

Adjective

tongue-in-cheek (comparative more tongue-in-cheek, superlative most tongue-in-cheek)

  1. (idiomatic) Not intended seriously; jocular or humorous.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:witty
    He gave a tongue-in-cheek explanation of why the sky was blue, offering a theory about some primordial discount on light blue paint.
    • 2021 December 29, Conrad Landin, “Glasgow Subway: a city institution”, in RAIL, number 947, page 45:
      It was in this era, too, that author and Scotland the Brave songwriter Cliff Hanley penned The Glasgow Underground, a tongue-in-cheek love letter to the Subway in song.

Translations

Adverb

tongue-in-cheek (not comparable)

  1. (obsolete) With contempt.
  2. With irony.
    He portrayed them tongue-in-cheek as great lawgivers, as Solons.

References

  1. ^ Walter Scott (1828) chapter VIII, in Fair Maid of Perth: “It is true, the fellow who gave this all hail thrust his tongue in his cheek to some scapegraces like himself; […]”
  2. ^ Richard Barham (1845) “The Black Mousquetaire”, in The Ingoldsby Legends, page 236: “He examined the face, And the back of the case, / And the young Lady's portrait there, done on enamel, he / "Saw by the likeness was one of the family;" / Cried "Superbe! Magnifique!" / (With his tongue in his cheek)”

Further reading

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