Tongue in Cheek: Definition, Origin & Useful Examples in English

Tongue in cheek meaning! What is the definition of “tongue in cheek”? This lesson below will provide the meaning, origin & synonyms list of this idiom with ESL printable infographic and useful example sentences.

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Tongue in Cheek Meaning

What Does Tongue in Cheek Mean?

The idiom ‘tongue-in-cheek’ is used to imply that something is slyly humorous, ironic, jocular and intend to be understood as a joke, but with an act of being serious.
The tone or the context of the statement may make it to be taken seriously by the listener.

Tongue in Cheek Origin

The phrase has origins in 18th-century England, and it originally alludes to a common facial expression created by putting one’s tongue in one’s cheek and used to express contempt, but by 1842 had acquired its modern meaning.
The ironic usage originates with the idea of suppressed mirth—biting one’s tongue to prevent an outburst of laughter.
It may have been used to suppress laughter.

Example Sentences

He gave a tongue-in-cheek explanation of why the sky was blue, offering a theory about some primordial discount on light blue paint.
I love that kind of tongue-in-cheek wit.
The offer was made almost tongue-in-cheek.
Her latest play is a firmly tongue-in-cheek look at the world of advertising.
I think he was talking tongue-in-cheek.
Karen’s tongue-in-cheek interview was given half a page, and the Globe immediately asked her for more articles.
The way I use them is slightly tongue-in-cheek.
Corbett loved the brilliant logic delivered so tongue-in-cheek that only those who wished to take offence would be affronted.
This is not a merely tongue-in-cheek reaction to such arguments as that of Meillassoux.
This was said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but there is a serious point to the question.
Were they written tongue-in-cheek, or with an underlying conviction?
This is all slightly tongue-in-cheek, I’d like to make that clear.
It is the trick of the big-stage musical number but applied to circus with finesse and much tongue-in-cheek humour.