What is tongue in cheek meaning?

Tongue in cheek is a figure of speech that implies humor or sarcasm, where the speaker says something amusing or ironical with a straight face, as if they meant it seriously. It usually refers to a statement that is not meant to be taken literally, but rather, is intended to be taken in an ironic or humorous way, often with a wink, a smile, or a nod. The term comes from the physical gesture of putting one's tongue inside their cheek to prevent themselves from laughing out loud at something that is supposed to be serious.