tongue in cheek

[cueball9917]

tongue in cheek What is the derivation of the phrase, and I'm don't want the simple answer of "saying something in a bantering fashion."

[Ewood27]

This is from www.wordorigins.org "Tongue In Cheek The commonly told tale about this phrase is that it derives from the acting practice of thrusting one's tongue into your cheek to keep from laughing at an inappropriate moment. There is no evidence to support this story or the idea that the phrase originates in the theater. "The phrase dates to 1748 when it was fashionable to signal contempt for someone by making a bulge in your cheek with your tongue. By 1842 the phrase had acquired its modern, ironic sense." Hope that helps.

[Quizmonster]

It means jokingly or insincerely. It was first used in written English by Sir Walter Scott in 1748 as follows: "The fellow who gave this all-hail thrust his tongue in his cheek to some scapegraces like himself." In this situation, Scott obviously means that the man who said 'Hello' was really only doing so mockingly and showed his equally-naughty friends he was doing so. It can also suggest that the act of putting one's tongue in one's cheek is in an effort not to laugh, as E explains above.

[che630]

Sir Walter Scott wasn't born until 1771, I think you'll find.

[Quizmonster]

My apologies re the date...Che is quite correct re Scott's birth...I should have said '1828'. I got the quote from the right place - his 'Fair Maid of Perth' - but took the date from the preceding quotation in a list! Again, I'm sorry for the mistake, though it had no effect whatever on the answer as such.

[Quizmonster]

I've got myself into a right mugger's buddle with these quotations and dates, what with reading both in the wrong sequence! In fact, the first time the phrase - in the form "I signified my contempt of him by thrusting my tongue in my cheek" - appeared in English print was in 1748 in Smollett's 'Roderick Random'. The Scott quote was much later and the 1748 date is clearly the one referred to in E's opening response above. In the form "tongue in cheek" - just these words in that sequence - it did not appear until the 1930s and the hyphenated form "tongue-in-cheek" was even later, in the 1950s. Sorry about the confusion, Cueball.