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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[edit] 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]
[edit] 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 an otherwise 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]
[edit] See also
[edit] 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 9780199543793, 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 9781843403043, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AEL0XOWn0sEC&pg=PA37
- ^ Russell, D. (1989). The principles of computer networking. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521339926. http://books.google.com/books?id=ReDwVJGlxLsC&pg=PA300.
- ^ Beebe, Steven A.; Redmond, Mark; Geerinck, Terri (2003), Interpersonal communication, Pearson Education, ISBN 9780205360741, http://books.google.com/books?id=0OZJaw2JC9oC
