Can someone please explain the expression "tongue-in-cheek?"?

Answer 1

Tongue-in-cheek is a term that refers to a style of humour in which things are said only half seriously, or in a subtly mocking way.

Origin of the term:
The term first appeared in print in the book The Ingoldsby Legends by Richard Harris Barham, published in 1845. The author uses the term describing a Frenchman:

He fell to admiring his friend's English watch.
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)
Then he open'd the case, just to take a peep in it, and
Seized the occasion to pop back the minute hand.

Answer 2

This is an extremely old addage for someone knowing something that they are not sharing with anyone---it comes from two seperate places to mean the same thing---on one hand--with one's tongue inserted into the cheek--the tongue is not at liberty to talk and therefore unable to tell what the individual knows---on the other part--this is usually the reaction that people have when they know something that for what ever the reason--- they're not telling---sort of a body language thing----hope this clears some of that up for you---great question by the way

Answer 3

Tongue-in-cheek is a term that refers to a style of humour in which things are said only half seriously, or in a subtly mocking way.

Tongue-in-cheek humour in fiction often takes the form of gentle parodies. Such stories seem to abide by the conventions of an established serious genre, while in reality, they gently poke fun at some aspects of that genre. A tongue-in-cheek work still relies on these conventions and is not the same as a farce. Good examples of films that are made in a tongue-in-cheek way are An American Werewolf in London, Scream, or True Lies. Note that these films are still faithful to their genre (horror and spy, respectively) and are not out-and-out parodies such as Airplane!.

Answer 4

Although the term "Tongue-in-cheek" has several usages, I believe the term usually refers to a subtle snide, almost sarcastic, remark that is made and is usually comical.

Answer 5

Tongue in cheek means holding back the laughter. You try to not laugh by this means...but you really are amused by the stimuli that created this reaction within you.

Answer 6

It refers to saying something in a semi-serious manner, but really be joking, or making a pun.

Answer 7

not taking something seriously having a laugh

Answer 8

its referring to a bj