(no subject)

[arethinn]

What does the idiom "tongue in cheek" (meaning basically "not serious") actually refer to? The only time I see people making a facial expression which involves sticking their tongue into the inside of their cheek is for "blow job" jokes. Is there something else going on with the verbal expression?

Comments

[lupagreenwolf.livejournal.com]

Wiki tells all

[arethinn]

Hmm, well, it doesn't really. Why the thrusting of the tongue into the cheek, I wants to know. What does it really signify or imitate? The world may never know...

[talonstrike.livejournal.com]

There is an explanation of why, it's just an exceptionally stupid one. That page says that thrusting your tongue into your cheek "induces a wink", so the phrase alludes to saying something in a manner that would be accompanied by a wink. Which would be a fine explanation, if it actually DID induce a wink!

[arethinn]

Well! I daresay if I thrust my tongue into your cheek, that there would be an expression at the very least accompanied by a wink!

...Uh, so. Coffee?

[talonstrike.livejournal.com]

Coffee, eh? This isn't just a pretext to lure me in so that you can thrust your tongue into my cheek, is it? :D

Never can tell these days...

[arethinn]

I'm kidding around. Dare I say it, that remark was, itself, tongue-in-cheek. ;)

[talonstrike.livejournal.com]

*gasp* No! Seriously?! :D

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

I thought "tongue in cheek" was referring more to a deceitful expression. I'm probably totally wrong though. I always seem to think these expressions are the opposite of what they are...

[arethinn]

Hmmm, maybe, okay. I could see that, with the right accompanying expression in the eyes.