tongue-in-cheek

Meaning

Adj

Not intended seriously; jocular or humorous.

Adv

1. (not-comparable, obsolete) With contempt.
2. (not-comparable) With irony.

Synonyms

jokingly

banteringly

facetious

facetiously

bantering

joking

wryly

second degree

humorous

hypocritical

ironic

ironically

Translations

agut

enginyós

graciós

😄

salat

jocós

ocurrent

heuchlerisch

scheinheilig

ironisch gemeint

hypocrite

facétieux

second degré

ipocrita

busseta

Etymology

This phrase alludes to the facial expression created by putting one's tongue in one's cheek. The term first appeared in print in 1828, but it isn't entirely clear that it was used with the modern, rather than a literal, sense. A later citation from Richard Barham is unambiguous.