Okay...What does "tongue in cheek" mean--there is an argument

[Sannum]

that is ongoing with a friend of mine and she says that it means someone is serious. I say that it means someone is joking. Now. I know I am right, so would someone please confirm this one.

This same friend and I argue about "brothers in law" vs "brother in laws" as well. She is a bit of a moran.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

1. It means someone is joking.

[Sannum]

2. I am going to email this thread to her.

To prove that I am RIGHT! Is that small of me?

The irony of all of this? She is an english major.

[SeattleGirl]

4. That would depend on what tone you took in the email.

:hi:

[REP]

3. It Means "Not Serious"

Or "ironic" (id est, sarcastic)

[ForrestGump]

6. Unless the tongue and the cheek don't belong to the same person, in

which case it's some pretty darned serious kissing...

[REP]

7. Not Necessarily

It could be a really ironic Kiss of Death.

[reyd reid reed]

5. It means someone is joking...

Being sarcastic. A smartass.

Hand her a dictionary, 'cause she's probably not going to believe us, either.

I mean...geeeeze...what do We know?

(said with tongue planted firmly in cheek)

[wildhorses]

8. mayhaps this will help

This funny-sounding expression indicates that someone just told a joke or isn't being serious! If someone says something "tongue-in-cheek," he or she is usually kidding.

It's believed that this saying was created by an English humorist in the 1800s. Most people have difficulty saying anything with their tongue in their cheek. But some people actually do stick their tongue against the inside of their cheek after saying a joke to show that they're only kidding.