# Origin of "Tongue in Cheek"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-tongue-in-cheek/94224>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 19, 2001, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-tongue-in-cheek/94224 "2001-11-19T17:03:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dasceder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@dasceder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasceder)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-tongue-in-cheek/94224/1 "2001-11-19T17:03:24Z")

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I can’t believe no one has asked this on this before (on the SMDB), but does anyone have any idea where this phrase came from?

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**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-tongue-in-cheek/94224/2 "2001-11-19T18:30:49Z")

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Well, according to [this](http://members.aol.com/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#TongueInCheek) page:

Meaning: To pretend to be serious while joking

Origin: Comes from the practice of biting your tongue causing pain in an effort to suppress laughter or a smile. If you bite your tongue with your side teeth you have put your tongue in your cheek.  
I’ve heard similar explanations elsewhere.

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**Author:** ![jmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmonster)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-tongue-in-cheek/94224/3 "2001-11-19T19:02:59Z")

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Plus, saying “eyes firmly rolled” doesn’t have the same oomph.

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-tongue-in-cheek/94224/4 "2001-11-19T19:13:48Z")

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According to [http://www.wordorgins.com](http://www.wordorgins.com) it means:

> [@](#):
>
> 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.