tongue-in-cheek 的詞源

「不被認真對待」，1856年，來自短語 to speak with one's tongue in one's cheek 「不誠實地說」（1748年），暗示狡猾的諷刺或幽默的不誠實，可能是一種舞台技巧，用以向觀眾傳達諷刺。

Hem! Pray, Sir, said he to the Bard, after thrusting his Tongue into a Corner of his Cheek, and rolling his Eyes at Miss Willis, (Tricks which he had caught by endeavouring to take off a celebrated Comedian) were these fine Tragedies of yours ever acted? [anonymous, "Emily, or the History of a Natural Daughter," 1761]

嘿！請問，先生，他對詩人說，在把他的舌頭伸進他臉頰的一個角落，並對 Willis小姐翻白眼後，（這些他是通過試圖模仿一位著名喜劇演員學到的把戲）這些美好的悲劇你們曾經演出過嗎？[匿名，《艾米莉，或自然女兒的歷史》，1761年]

This arietta, however, she no sooner began to perform, than he and the justice fell asleep ; but the moment she ceased playing, the knight waked snorting, and exclaimed,— 'O cara! what d'ye think, gentlemen? Will you talk any more of your Pargolesi and your Corelli ?'—At the same time, he thrust his tongue in one cheek, and leered with one eye at the doctor and me, who sat on his left hand—He concluded the pantomime with a loud laugh, which he could command at all times extempore. [Smollett, "The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker," 1771]

然而，當她開始演奏這首 arietta時，他和法官立即睡著了；但她一停止演奏，騎士就打鼾著醒來， exclaimed,— 'O cara! 你們覺得怎麼樣，先生們？你們還會再談談你們的帕爾戈萊西和科雷利嗎？—同時，他把舌頭伸進一側臉頰，並對坐在他左邊的我和醫生眨眼—他以一聲響亮的笑聲結束了這場舞台劇，這是他隨時都能即興控制的。[斯莫萊特，《漢弗萊·克林克的遠征》，1771年]

作為形容詞，「諷刺且狡猾地幽默」，1933年。