The idiom "tongue-in-cheek" means that someone is saying something in a joking or sarcastic way, but they don't really mean it. It's like they're winking at you while they say it, to let you know they're not being serious.
For example, if someone says "I'm the best singer in the world," but they're not actually a good singer, they might say it tongue-in-cheek to make fun of themselves.
You can use this idiom when you want to make a joke or be sarcastic about something, but you don't want people to think you're serious. It's a way to lighten the mood and make people laugh.
Overall, "tongue-in-cheek" is a fun and playful way to communicate, and it's a great way to add humor to your conversations.
• I couldn't tell if he was being serious or tongue-in-cheek when he said he could fly like a bird.
• The comedian's tongue-in-cheek jokes about politics had the audience in stitches.
• The politician's speech was filled with tongue-in-cheek references to his opponent's scandalous behavior.
• The actor's tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the villain stole the show and earned him critical acclaim.
• The author's use of tongue-in-cheek humor added a refreshing layer to the otherwise serious subject matter.
• She made a tongue-in-cheek comment about being the queen of England, but everyone knew she was joking.