What is tongue and cheek meaning?

Tongue-in-cheek is an idiomatic expression primarily used to describe a statement or an attitude that is not meant to be taken seriously, but rather in a humorous or satirical sense. It is a form of irony, wherein a person appears to be serious but is actually joking or being sarcastic. The phrase is derived from the physical gesture of sticking one's tongue in their cheek, which represents a sense of playfulness or mischief. Using tongue-in-cheek statements requires a level of nuance and tact so as to not be misunderstood or taken offensively.