tongue-in-cheek
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tongue-in-cheek
(tŭng'ĭn-chēk')
adj.
Meant or expressed ironically or facetiously.
adj.
Meant or expressed ironically or facetiously.
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tongue-in-cheek
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms:
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tongue in cheek, with
Ironically or as a joke, as in Was he speaking with tongue in cheek when he said Sally should run for president? This term probably alludes to the facial expression produced by poking one's tongue in one's cheek, perhaps to suppress a smile. [First half of 1800s]
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Tongue-in-cheek
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Look up tongue-in-cheek in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort.[1] In the past, it may also have indicated contempt, but that is no longer common.[2] By 1842, the phrase had acquired its contemporary meaning similar to "take what I am saying with a grain of salt," indicating that a statement was not meant to be taken seriously.[3][4][5] Early users of the phrase include Sir Walter Scott in his 1828 The Fair Maid of Perth.
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History
Putting one's tongue into a cheek was formerly used to signify contempt. For example, in Tobias George Smollett's The Adventures of Roderick Random, which was published in 1748, the eponymous hero is taking a coach to Bath and apprehends a highwayman. This provokes an altercation with a less brave passenger:[6]
| “ | He looked black and pronounced with a faultering voice, 'O! 'tis very well — damn my blood! I shall find a time.' I signified my contempt of him by thrusting my tongue in my cheek, which humbled him so much, that he scarce swore another oath aloud during the whole journey. | ” |
A similar usage appears in 1828 in The Fair Maid of Perth by Sir Walter Scott, "The fellow who gave this all-hail thrust his tongue in his cheek to some scapegraces like himself."
The more modern ironic sense appears in the 1842 poem, "The Ingoldsby Legends," in which a Frenchman inspects a watch and cries:[3]
-
- 'Superbe! Magnifique!'
- (with his tongue in his cheek)
- 'Superbe! Magnifique!'
The ironic usage originates with the idea of suppressed mirth — biting one's tongue to prevent an outburst of laughter.[7]
Online
Interaction and conversation online is often done without being able to see the faces of the other parties. By using emoticons, one can convey a humorous slant to what might otherwise be perceived as a serious statement. A smiley such as :P may be used to signal jocularity, and has been called the tongue-in-cheek symbol.[8] The expression may be denoted more graphically with forms such as :-? or :-J.[9]
See also
References
- ^ Lindley, E H (1896). "A preliminary study of some of the motor phenomena of mental effort". The American Journal of Psychology.
- ^ Ayto, John (2009), From the Horse's Mouth, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-954379-3, http://books.google.com/books?id=BC8_tRvBSvsC&
- ^ a b Owens, Gene (4 December 2007). "'Tongue in cheek' is cut-and-dried phrase". The Oklahoman (Phrases.org). http://newsok.com/article/3176644/1196722011. "... Novelist Sir Walter Scott used 'tongue in cheek' as early as 1828 in 'The Fair Maid of Perth,' but it isn't clear what he meant."
- ^ Chay, H, Contrastive metaphor of Korean and English revealed in 'mouth' and 'tongue' expressions
- ^ Zoltan, I G (2006). "Use Your Body". Philologia.
- ^ Smollett, Tobias George (1780), The adventures of Roderick Random, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ld8kAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA200
- ^ Marshallsay, Nick (2005), The body language phrasebook, Collins & Brown, ISBN 978-1-84340-304-3, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AEL0XOWn0sEC&pg=PA37
- ^ Russell, D. (1989). The principles of computer networking. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-33992-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=ReDwVJGlxLsC&pg=PA300.
- ^ Beebe, Steven A.; Redmond, Mark; Geerinck, Terri (2003), Interpersonal communication, Pearson Education, ISBN 978-0-205-36074-1, http://books.google.com/books?id=0OZJaw2JC9oC
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American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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