# Origin of the phrase "tongue in cheek" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-tongue-in-cheek/204899 "2003-10-01T12:09:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-tongue-in-cheek/204899/1 "2003-10-01T12:09:39Z")
OK, I know that the phrase means “characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration,” and I know that it first appeared in print sometime in the late 1930s, but I don’t understand why it means what it does. Was it ever common practice to stick your tongue in your cheek when telling a lie or an exaggeration? I’ve heard the phrase all my life, but I’ve never actually seen anybody stick their tongue in their cheek when telling a joke. Maybe I just don’t get around enough, though… Barry ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-tongue-in-cheek/204899/2 "2003-10-01T12:17:16Z")
ooh was this brought upon by my usage of the term [in this thread?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=214198) 🙂 It just came to me while I was typing but I didn’t know what the hell it meant so I looked it up. One of those funny types of things. According to [this cite](http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/tongue.html) > [@](#): > > When people want to show they are kidding or have just knowingly uttered a falsehood, they stick their tongues in their cheeks, so it’s “tongue in cheek,” not “tongue and cheek.” According to [this cite]([http://www.wordorigins.org/wordort.htm#Tongue](http://www.wordorigins.org/wordort.htm#Tongue) In) > [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-tongue-in-cheek/204899/3 "2003-10-01T12:22:21Z")
Actually, it’s a question I’ve had for awhile. I’m afraid I didn’t read that particular thread, sorry. Interesting cites, though! The dictionaries I looked in indicated that the word was first used in the 1930s, so I was surprised to see a much early date mentioned in your cite. Of course the fact that your cite also states, “There is no evidence to support this story” makes me think that we still haven’t found anything definitive… Barry ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-tongue-in-cheek/204899/4 "2003-10-01T12:31:25Z")
Ahh well I will attempt to research further then =) This [cite](Tongue in Cheek) is a ripoff of one of the above cites. After a little more research I have found the text that the term was originally used in. [The Troubles of a Fortune Hunter by Tobias Smollett from ‘The Adventures of Roderick Random’ (1748)](http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/smollett/fortune.htm) In IE simply push ctr+f and type tongue. This is obviously not where it originated but after a look around I don’t think you will find an earlier usage. ;j ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-tongue-in-cheek/204899/5 "2003-10-01T12:36:30Z")
From the story cited above: > [@](#): > > I saluted each of them in order, and, when I came to take Mr. Slyboot by the hand, I perceived him thrust his tongue in his cheek, to the no small entertainment of the company; but I did not think proper to take any notice of it on this occasion. I’m not sure what the author is actually talking about in this passage, but it _does_ seem to verify that the phrase is an old one. Perhaps the 1930’s reference in my dictionaries is to when the phrase gained its modern usage? Barry ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-phrase-tongue-in-cheek/204899/6 "2003-10-01T12:45:23Z")
I see the date you are referring to. When I used [www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com) to look up the definition of tongue-in-cheek it returned: > [@](#): > > One entry found for tongue-in-cheek. > > Main Entry: tongue-in-cheek > Function: adjective > Date: 1933 > : characterized by insincerity, irony, or whimsical exaggeration After a little _more_ research I have found the supposed origination: [ > [@](#): > > Tongue-in-cheek doesn’t seem to be a very old phrase as the earliest use we can find is in the Times Literary Supplement for 1933. ]([http://www.takeourword.com/Issue105.html](http://www.takeourword.com/Issue105.html)) Again use the ctr+f method I attempted to retrieve the text from [The Times Literary Supplement](http://www.the-tls.co.uk/centenary_archive/main.asp) website however it is pay as you go and I ain’t payin’! I imagine that the date 1933 is when webster or oxford officially entered it into language. I doubt it was used with the hyphens as a phrase i.e “tongue-in-cheek” rather than something like, “with his tongue in his cheek” before 1933.