tongue-in-cheek

T t

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [tuhng in cheek]
- /tʌŋ ɪn tʃik/
- /tʌŋ ɪn tʃiːk/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [tuhng in cheek]
- /tʌŋ ɪn tʃik/

Definitions of tongue-in-cheek word

noun tongue-in-cheek Anatomy. the usually movable organ in the floor of the mouth in humans and most vertebrates, functioning in eating, in tasting, and, in humans, in speaking. 1
noun tongue-in-cheek Zoology. an analogous organ in invertebrate animals. 1
noun tongue-in-cheek the tongue of an animal, as an ox, beef, or sheep, used for food, often prepared by smoking or pickling. 1
noun tongue-in-cheek the human tongue as the organ of speech: No tongue must ever tell the secret. 1
noun tongue-in-cheek the faculty or power of speech: a sight no tongue can describe. 1
noun tongue-in-cheek speech or talk, especially mere glib or empty talk. 1

See all 38 definitions of tongue-in-cheek

Information block about the term

Origin of tongue-in-cheek

First appearance:

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; (noun) Middle English tunge, Old English; cognate with Dutch tong, German Zunge, Old Norse tunga, Gothic tuggo; akin to Latin lingua (OL dingua); (v.) Middle English tungen to scold, derivative of the noun

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Tongue-in-cheek

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Tongue-in-cheek

tongue-in-cheek popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

According to our data about 52% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

Synonyms for tongue-in-cheek

adj tongue-in-cheek

aweless — feeling no awe
coltish — A young person or animal that is coltish is full of energy but clumsy or awkward, because they lack physical skill or control.
facetious — not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark.
flipper — a broad, flat limb, as of a seal or whale, especially adapted for swimming.
frivolous — characterized by lack of seriousness or sense: frivolous conduct.

adjective tongue-in-cheek

elvish — Of or having to do with elves.
ironic — using words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; containing or exemplifying irony: an ironic novel; an ironic remark.
ironical — pertaining to, of the nature of, exhibiting, or characterized by irony or mockery: an ironical compliment; an ironical smile.
jokingly — something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote, or a prankish act: He tells very funny jokes. She played a joke on him.
joshing — good-natured banter.

All 14 Synonyms of tongue-in-cheek

Matching words

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