Meaning
Said or done ironically, as a joke, rather than with the apparent seriousness; the speaker's pretended sincerity signals that the remark should not be taken at face value. Also used as a hyphenated adjective ('a tongue-in-cheek apology') for dry, mock-serious humour. Neutral to playful register; it flags harmless irony rather than deception, so it rarely carries an accusation of lying. Regional use: General English.
Origin
The expression comes from the facial gesture of pushing the tongue into the cheek, which induces a wink and has long signalled that words are not to be taken literally. Its first appearance in print is Sir Walter Scott's novel 'The Fair Maid of Perth' (1828, not 1808 as is often claimed): 'The fellow who gave this all-hail thrust his tongue in his cheek to some scapegraces like himself.' The Phrase Finder cautions that Scott may be describing a gesture of contempt or mockery rather than playful irony. The first clearly ironic use is usually given as Richard Barham's 'Ingoldsby Legends' (1845), where an insincere compliment - 'Superbe! Magnifique!' - is delivered 'with his tongue in his cheek'. Merriam-Webster dates the hyphenated adjective 'tongue-in-cheek' to 1856.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- tongue firmly in cheek
- with one's tongue in one's cheek
Usage Examples
- The hotel's brochure promises 'authentic medieval comfort' entirely tongue in cheek.
- She accepted the award with her tongue firmly in cheek, thanking her 'patient' cats.
- His tongue-in-cheek memoir of junior accountancy became an unlikely bestseller.