with one's tongue in one's cheek

/wɪð wˈɒnz tˈʌŋ ɪn wˈɒnz tʃˈiːk/

/wɪð wˈʌnz tˈʌŋ ɪn wˈʌnz tʃˈiːk/

[phrase]

with one's tongue in one's cheek

[PHRASE]

used to suggest that something was meant as a joke and is not to be taken seriously

What is the origin of the idiom "with one's tongue in one's cheek" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "with one's tongue in one's cheek" can be traced back to the physical gesture of placing one's tongue inside the cheek while speaking. This gesture is associated with hiding one's true feelings or intentions while saying something, often in a sarcastic or ironic manner. This idiom is used informally to indicate that someone is speaking with a touch of irony, sarcasm, or insincerity. When someone makes a statement "with their tongue in their cheek," it means that they may not be entirely serious about what they are saying, and there is a playful or mocking element to their words. It's a way of signaling to the listener that the statement should not be taken at face value.

Examples

1. One suspects that he is writing with tongue in cheek.

2. One suspects that he is writing with tongue in cheek.

3. Yet if Keep the Aspidistra Flying was slightly tongue in cheek, it was still haunted by Orwell’s pet themes of poverty and the dehumanising power of social systems.

4. Fans came to appreciate that Rocky’s narcissism was tongue in cheek, much in the mould of Muhammad Ali and they began to enjoy his over the top sense of humour.